Free kayaking on the Hudson, in the heart of Manhattan
i24NEWS ·
The 3 Minutes POP on the water. All summer, Manhattan offers many free, often sporty activities, but David Benaym never imagined the city would offer "kayak rides for all ages." Destination: Hudson River Park, along the West Side Highway at the level of Tribeca, which turns 20 this year: "a long, narrow park on the edge of the ocean that gives you a good breath of oxygen in the middle of the urban jungle." Manuel, a volunteer for 14 years, describes it as a place unique in the world. To pick up a canoe, a life jacket and a paddle, head to Pier 26, at the Downtown Boathouse, for the safety instructions; no need to book, "first come, first served." A member of the Downtown Boathouse's board reminds us that many New Yorkers forget they live on an island: in 23 years, the association has introduced about half a million people to the river. On the water, "the buildings tower over you and yet you feel totally in harmony with nature": between Manhattan and New Jersey, "a whole different perspective on the city and a New York experience I had never felt before." Free kayaking on the Hudson runs until September, every day of the week, sometimes even in the evening, at Pier 26 on Manhattan's west side. David Benaym's 3 Minutes POP in Benjamin Petrover's “C'été l'info”, i24NEWS in French, July 24, 2018.