P l a n N Y C | Planning Information Portal

Hudson River Park

Plans call for the partially completed Hudson River Park to run for five miles along Manhattan’s Hudson River front, from Battery Place to West 59th Street. When completed, the park will encompass 550 acres, including 13 old maritime piers that are being converted into public parks. Of the park’s six segments, two have been completed, one is currently under construction, and the remaining three are in development stages. Over $350 million in public money has gone into the park, of which approximately one third each came from the state and city, with the remaining third coming from a variety of sources.

The development of the park has been marked with controversy, especially from within the environmental community, some of whom joined the Hudson River Park Alliance to support most of the park planning and others of whom remained critical of the project. The latter group has been particularly critical of the plan to support the maintenance of the park with funds from commercial developments within the park itself, arguing that a simpler park could be maintained entirely through public funds. Critics also decried the adverse environmental effects of the park, especially on the native fish habitat. The park’s supporters maintain that allowing certain piers to decay naturally will protect those fish, and that utilizing funds earned in the park is the only way in which to maintain a park of this magnitude.

Plans for Pier 40, located just off Houston Street, have also been at the center of controversy. Pier 40 is one of the City's largest recreational facilities heavily used by the local community and youth sport’s leagues especially. The Hudson River Park Trust issued an RFP in August 2006. Initially there were two proposals being considered: Camp Group's "The People's Pier", including educational space, a part-time day camp, and boutique retail and Related's "Pier 40 Performing Arts Center," involving Cirque du Soleil, a multiplex cinema, and rooftop recreation. Neither proposal has received full support from the community or local officials even after modifications. While many are eager to see much needed renovations and improvements, some community residents express fear of increased costs and overcrowding possibly resulting from these proposals. Concerns have also arisen about the financial feasibility of “The People’s Pier” and the need for both proposals to extend the 30-year lease mandated by the Hudson River Park Trust.

In January 2008, a late entry proposal was made by the Pier 40 Partnership, a community-based parent’s group, for the pier to be revitalized with new artist space, a public high school and continued use of protected sports fields, the bike path, and other recreational space. This plan has been endorsed by the Pier 40 Working Group and Community Board 2’s Waterfront Committee; making it a valid contender for the redevelopment of the Pier. A meeting of the Hudson River Park Trust is expected at the end of January 2008 to reach a consensus and move forward so as not to delay or set back the project any further.