Water's Soul by Jaume Plensa

This is one of the newest piers along the Hudson Waterfront, featuring a towering 24-meter (80-foot) statue called 'Water's Soul' by artist Jaume Plensa. The statue symbolizes hope for humanity's future and is a one-of-a-kind installation. I am not sure how I feel about it, as from certain angles the statue does not look flattering at all.

The pier offers a comfortable experience with numerous benches, binoculars for enjoying the Manhattan view, and it's well-maintained. However, there's a significant downside – it's private property with undisclosed closing hours (around 18:30 I believe), therefore, most likely, you will be, like me, abruptly chased away by a not so friendly security guard. This can be quite frustrating, as other piers do not have such restrictions.

While it's a great spot for daytime relaxation, it's not the best choice for skyline views, especially at sunset, as the Holland Tunnel ventilation tower partially obstructs the Downtown view. If you're here for the view, consider heading a few piers in either direction for better views where you won't be kicked out once the sun sets.

Last visited in October 2023.

Good area for evening walks and calming atmosphere. Good view of NYC but gets blocked by the statue in some parts

Nice spot. Great walk if you’re in Jersey City or Hoboken. Not sure I would go out of my way to visit though

The picturesque view from this place looks amazing! It feels so good to just walk around here and enjoy the city views. There’s limited parking available, so we had to walk from the main road. The cool breeze in the evening was refreshing, do visit this beautiful place when you’re in New Jersey.

"Water's Soul" by Jaume Plensa is a striking and contemplative sculpture that adds a unique charm to the waterfront area overlooking the Hudson River and the NYC skyline. The surrounding seating areas are welcoming, offering a comfortable spot to pause and take in the views along with the thought-provoking art. The sculpture itself, featuring a woman with a finger pressed to her lips as if to signal silence, is beautifully crafted and evokes a sense of serenity. It's interesting and somewhat ironic that the sculpture is oriented so that this calming gesture is directed at New York City, while Jersey City gets the back of the head. While this might feel somewhat awkward to local residents, it nonetheless creates a fascinating dynamic that sparks conversation. All in all, this space is a lovely and serene enclave amidst the hustle of urban life, and the sculpture is a standout piece that adds significantly to the ambiance.

Beautiful Harborside Park in Jersey City NJ ( Newport neighborhood). Awesome views of NYC across the Hudson river.

Beautiful addition to Jersey City!

The sculpture is HUGE standing at 80 feet but looking so serene. I love its minimalist look but that it also had all the details in all the right places. From the curves on her hair and the contours of her face. Its indeed a lovely work.

The construction and beautification of the entire place is still ongoing as of September 2022 but I love that there are already seating areas available as well as photo ops.

They did a good job finding a wonderful spot for this sculpture as it overlooked the hudson and the city. If you have researched its meaning, it is indeed beautiful. She is meant to symbolize self-reflection; asking us for a bit of silence and to listen. To remind us that all things have souls and that Water does not belong to anyone but yet also belongs to all.