Randall's Island is a destination in New York City providing sports venues, cultural events, and environmental exploration. The remnant landscape with limited vegetation has a great opportunity for bringing in vibrant recreational functions and plant communities. The site within Randall's Island is located at the estuary of Bronx Kill. Combining two landscape elements, stairs, and follies, the design concept is to create a weaving circuit that responds to inland flood and sea-level rise pressure. The circuit here enhances access to the water edge while providing opportunities for habitat establishment for birds, oysters, and native plants to thrive.
The cascading blocks in the water edge provide human access in the coming decades. Made of stones, it also protects the erosion of the water edge. In 2080, there will be approximately 9 feet of sea-level rise in this area covering most of the cascading blocks which will be more nature-oriented with less human activities. The stair landform within the circuit creates a playful environment and acts as a retention pond that manages stormwater. The circular walkway connects three key follies:
PORTAL - a grant entrance bringing visitors in.
BIRD-WATCH FOLLY - people can go up to the platform to get views of birds on the water edge.
Discovery GARDEN - a playful human-centric folly that blends into the stair mounds within the circle.
