A community group had sued to prevent the construction of a bridge in Clara Coffey Park in New York City. The court ruled in the favor of the city's plans.
"The [New York] state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has rejected a lawsuit that sought to stop the erection of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over a Midtown Manhattan park," reports Eve Kessler.
Calling the court decision a "victory for city agencies over the 'Not in My Back Yard' crowd," Kessler explains that the decision by the Appellate Division sets a precedent that infrastructure is an entirely appropriate use of parkland, and could pave the way for similar victories in the future.
"The bridge — which would span the FDR Drive to connect Sutton Place South at East 54th Street to an as yet unbuilt part of the East River Esplanade — is part of the larger East River Greenway, a mammoth, multi-year project to create waterfront access around Manhattan for residential recreation," according to Kessler.
The group on the other side of the issue, the Cannon Point Preservation Corporation, "sued the city last year claiming the bridge would illegally seize parkland in a vest-pocket greensward, Clara Coffey Park."
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