How do you create a fun, safe coastal park for a city facing rising sea levels and the growing threat of superstorms? Look no further than the Hills, which opened July 19 on New York City’s Governors Island and was planned by Dutch architect Adriaan Geuze to be a model of resilient design. Among its defenses: up to 16 feet of elevation, salt spray–proof vegetation, a rocky western border that absorbs crashing waves, a white seat-edge along paths that stems flooding and the titular hills, which rise up to 70 feet and inhibit the force of epic winds.
–Julia Zorthian
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Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com