The 1.2 mile Esplanade is the central feature of the Battery Park City Master Plan. It defines the Hudson River edge of lower Manhattan, provides access to the waterfront, and serves as a prototype for public spaces throughout Battery Park City. The overall design creates a civic scale appropriate to the expanse of the Hudson, while familiar materials complement the natural setting. The park is on two levels, providing quiet cloisters as well as a splendid tree-lined thoroughfare for pedestrians. Public art can be found at various points along the Esplanade, and city-style park benches provide an ideal place to sit and enjoy a river view. The award-winning Esplanade has become one of New York City’s most valued public spaces and a model for large-scale developments around the world.