The Dense Lights of the New York Skyline

The best way to appreciate the New York City skyline is from across one of the rivers, where you can get the panoramic view reflected off the water.

A brief subway ride under the East River from what we call “The City” takes you to Gantry Plaza State Park, a strip of shoreline facing Manhattan’s East Side. I rarely go to the neighborhood without a visit to this park. The sensible, walkable design and the beauty it presents remind me why I still live here.

The name Gantry Plaza refers to the neighborhood’s manufacturing and shipping history. Wisely, the City of New York retained the old gantries that were necessary for loading and unloading the boats. I love the homage to manual labor. Cities are built with the strength of the working class.

The abundance of lights shows the density of population and workplaces. That they are on at night speaks to the late-night work ethic needed to get work done and to afford to be here at all.