Hudson Yards’ Vessel will reopen with a buddy system in place
Photo © James and Karla Murray for 6sqft
In January, Hudson Yards’ 150-foot climbable sculpture Vessel closed after three people jumped to their deaths from the structure. According to a report in Gothamist, the attraction will reopen this Friday, but with new protocols in place. First, single people will no longer be able to enter Vessel; they will have to visit in groups of two or more. And instead of being free, most time slots will now cost $10 per person.
The first suicide at the sculpture occurred in February 2020, when a 19-year-old man from New Jersey jumped from the structure. In December of 2020, a 24-year-old woman from Brooklyn lost her life the same way, and in January 2021, a 21-year-old man from Texas.
After the first death, “Community Board 4 sent a letter to Related asking them the steps they are taking to prevent ‘terribly sad loss of life’ at the Vessel, beyond the addition of security guards,” as 6sqft reported.
Vessel contains a one-mile “vertical climbing experience” across 154 interconnected flights of stairs and 2,500 individual steps. However, the barrier that separates the platform from the edge is only chest-high. In their letter, CB4 pushed for additional barriers, but when Vessel reopens, the design will remain the same.
The team told Gothamist that their decision to start charging most visitors $10 (admission will remain free only for children under 5 and during the first hour it’s open every day) allows them to fund “safety enhancements including tripling our staff and security and increased staff training.”
Elaborating on this point, a spokesperson for Hudson Yards told Gothamist:
The team at Vessel is requiring visitors to attend in groups of two or more, implementing enhanced guest engagement and screening procedures to detect high-risk behaviors, tripling the staff and security, including messaging developed in partnership with Born This Way at the entrance to the attraction and on all Vessel tickets, and installing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline signage at the entrance.
Vessel reopens this Friday, May 30. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here >>
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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