Works in Public is Summer on the Hudson's public-art strand, and pairing an artist talk with a concert at the Locomotive picnic area means you get context first and music second, both free and both outdoors on the Hudson. The site itself — named for the freight locomotive that sits in the park as a relic of the old rail yard — is one of Riverside Park South's odder corners. If you like art you can ask questions about, this is a better format than a wall label.
What to expect
The talk comes first and is conversational rather than a lecture, with the artwork itself usually within sight. A concert follows on the same waterfront ground, with people spread across the picnic area and the lawn. Bring a blanket or chair — seating is what you carry in.
Good to know
- Take the 1 to 66th St–Lincoln Center or 72nd St and walk west into Riverside Park South.
- Free with no registration; arrive for the talk if you want the context before the music.
- Bring a blanket or low chair — seating is not provided.
- The Hudson-front site gets breezy in the evening; bring a layer.
- The park's preserved freight locomotive is nearby and worth a look.
- Paved esplanade access, with grass and picnic tables at the site itself.
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Common questions
What is Works in Public?
The public-art strand of NYC Parks' Summer on the Hudson series in Riverside Park.
Is it free?
Yes — Summer on the Hudson programming is free and open to the public.
Where is the Locomotive picnic area?
In Riverside Park South on the Upper West Side, near the park's preserved freight locomotive.
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