Trail Town
Battery Park City
New York County, NY
Gateway to Ground Zero
About Battery Park City
Battery Park City is a planned residential community on Manhattan's lower west side, built on 92 acres of landfill created from excavation material during the original World Trade Center construction in the 1960s and 1970s. Home to approximately 14,000 residents, this neighborhood sits directly on the Hudson River waterfront and is bordered by the World Trade Center site to the east. The community features extensive public parks, a 1.2-mile Esplanade along the Hudson River, and serves as a key access point on the Hudson River Greenway for cyclists and pedestrians traveling the 9/11 National Memorial Trail.
9/11 Connection
Battery Park City was Ground Zero's closest residential neighborhood. On September 11, 2001, the entire community was evacuated as debris from the collapse of the Twin Towers blanketed the area. Many residents were displaced for months, some for years, and the neighborhood sustained significant physical and environmental damage. The community's recovery became a symbol of Lower Manhattan's resilience.
Today, Battery Park City provides the most direct residential gateway to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located steps away at the World Trade Center site. The neighborhood's Esplanade connects to the Hudson River Greenway, which serves as the primary trail corridor through Manhattan for the 9/11 National Memorial Trail. The Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City also serves as a contemplative space near Ground Zero.
Today, Battery Park City provides the most direct residential gateway to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located steps away at the World Trade Center site. The neighborhood's Esplanade connects to the Hudson River Greenway, which serves as the primary trail corridor through Manhattan for the 9/11 National Memorial Trail. The Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City also serves as a contemplative space near Ground Zero.
Trail Access
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail follows the Hudson River Greenway through Battery Park City along the Esplanade, a 1.2-mile waterfront promenade offering views of the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey. The trail connects directly to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum via West Street/Route 9A crossings. Cyclists can access the full Hudson River Greenway north to the George Washington Bridge (approximately 12 miles) or south to Battery Park. The neighborhood is accessible via multiple subway lines: 1 to WTC Cortlandt, E to World Trade Center, or R/W to Cortlandt Street.
Trail Services & Facilities
Bike Shops
Pier 78, West Side Highway, New York, NY
Restrooms
Battery Park City Parks (multiple locations along Esplanade)
Public restroom • Daily 7AM-dusk
Brookfield Place
Business • Daily 10AM-9PM
Water Sources
Battery Park City Esplanade
fountain
Brookfield Place
fountain
Food & Dining
Le District
French Market & Restaurants • 225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281
Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place
Food Hall • 230 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281
PJ Clarke's on the Hudson
American • 250 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281
Lodging
Conrad New York Downtown
Luxury Hotel • 102 North End Ave, New York, NY 10282
The Wagner Hotel
Luxury Hotel • 2 West St, New York, NY 10004