Is One of New York's Most Successful Parks Heading for a Reckoning?

Charles V. Bagli and Lisa W. Foderaro report on the successes and challenges facing Hudson River Park, which is now running short on money for routine maintenance, and was supposed to be the model for New York City parks to come.

1 minute read

January 30, 2012, 8:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


For anyone that has visited the elegant park that stretches five miles along the Hudson River on Manhattan's west side from Battery Place to 59th street, the successes are evident in the crowds of daily visitors and the string of luxury condominiums and Class A office space that have been drawn to the waterfront by its development.

What's less apparent are the challenges that the park now faces due to declining capital funds and stalled commercial development on its piers.

"'Part of the challenge is how to put together a plan for successful private investment and appropriate redevelopment when you're basing that thinking on quicksand,' said Vin Cipolla, president of the Municipal Art Society. 'There has to be public investment, and the leadership will have to come from the governor. Otherwise we'll just see more deterioration.'"

Friday, January 27, 2012 in The New York Times

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