Can Tappan Zee Park Make It Past the Drawing Board?

Plans to transform New York's Tappan Zee Bridge into a park have captured the public's imagination, but some speculate it's just a pipe dream, Peter Applebome reports.

1 minute read

April 6, 2012, 11:00 AM PDT

By Ryan Lue


When talk of converting New York's Tappan Zee Bridge into a park gained momentum earlier this year, it sparked considerable public interest. Conceptual sketches of what the park might look like have already been presented by a number of interested parties, including the Tappan Bridge Park Alliance, a student workshop at Cooper Union in Manhattan, and graduate students at Columbia University.

But the project faces daunting financial hurdles, not the least of which is that the bridge, already six years past its projected lifespan, "has serious long-term structural and seismic concerns, including the threat of marine borers eating into the underwater wooden pilings that support the bridge," Applebome explains.

Even without vehicular traffic, the added weight of landscaping and foot traffic means the structure "would need systematic and regular maintenance, and, boy, is that expensive," said Henry J. Stanton, a former executive director of the New York State Bridge Authority.

Still, project advocates are hopeful in spite of the obstacles. "It took almost 20 years to bring Walkway Over the Hudson from outlandish idea to remarkable reality," writes Applebome. "The High Line was initially dismissed as utterly impractical. And unlike those two, the Tappan Zee already exists in usable form, waiting, advocates say, to be transformed."

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today