Cuomo kicks in big cash for Hudson River Park
Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at his annual State of the State address, vowed to finish a major parks project that his father Mario started:
the Hudson River Park.
BY SYDNEY PEREIRA
Governor Andrew Cuomo is
kicking in $23 million to help
fi nish Hudson River Park, he
announced Tuesday in his annual State
of the State address.
The “magnifi cent” park on Manhattan’s
West Side was started by former
Governor Mario Cuomo and Mayor
David Dinkins, the current governor
noted, and now he and Mayor Bill de
Blasio will “fi nally fi nish that park,”
Cuomo said Tuesday.
At least year’s State of the State,
Cuomo allocated $50 million in funds
for the waterfront park, which has been
under segment-by-segment construction
for more than two decades.
“We are grateful to Governor Cuomo
for his leadership and support and
thank him on behalf of the millions
who enjoy and rely on the park,” James
Yolles, a spokesperson for the Hudson
River Park Trust, said in a statement.
‘The fi nish line is
now within reach.’
James Yolles
“With approximately $900 million in
design or under construction through
public and private partnerships, the fi nish
line is now within reach.”
The Trust says that, even with Cuomo’s
latest pledge, an additional $23
million is still needed for capital projects
for portions of the park’s esplanade
between 29th and 35th Sts., as
well as between 39th and 44th Sts.
That fi gure does not include the
open space portion of Pier 40, the
commercial redevelopment of Pier
76, and Pier 26’s estuarium and capital
maintenance projects, according
to Yolles.
The Trust has been making headway
on a variety of portions of the
park in the past year.
In November, a $100 million project
to repair Pier 40’s dilapidated
piles was about one-fi fth of the way
completed, funded through a sale of
“air rights” from the W. Houston St.
pier to the St. John’s Building, where
Google plans to expand its offi ces.
PHOTO BY DARREN MCGEE
The Trust began its construction
at Tribeca’s Pier 26 in October with
a project to build a “science playground,”
two playing fi elds, a lounge
area, tiered seating, and a marsh
area designed to attract birds and
fi sh native to the Hudson River. Pier
26 is expected to open in 2020, and
an estuarium with classrooms and a
technology exhibit is planned for the
future once the Trust secures more
funds.
In Hell’s Kitchen, Pier 97, at W.
57th St., is also in the design development
phase for a $38 million redo.
That pier has been rebuilt, but is currently
just a concrete slab and still
needs to be landscaped and have park
amenities added.
Schneps Media TVG January 17, 2019 5