Friends of Hudson River Park, the primary advocacy and support organization for the Park, was founded in 1999. Our mission is to complete and sustain this world-class park that includes expansive lawns, horticultural walkways, recreational facilities, historic landmarks, and access to one of the most important rivers in the city and state. Today, at nearly 80% complete; approximately $200 million in additional funding is needed to finance the remaining construction.

To achieve our mission, we lobby for public funding to build the Park; we solicit contributions from the private sector on behalf of the Hudson River Park Trust, the City-State agency responsible for building and operating the Park; and we join forces with community, environmental, and other advocacy groups to ensure that the land designated as public space under the 1998 Hudson River Park Act is developed according to the legislation and that the Park has sufficient resources to endure and thrive.

Currently, Friends is exploring the possibility of creating a Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District with Park neighbors to generate additional resources. An Improvement District would serve the Park and its surrounding neighborhoods by improving connections to the Park, investing in Park capital maintenance and focusing on public space improvements to the east of the Park. The establishment of a Hudson River Park Improvement District would create a dedicated and reliable funding stream to meet these needs. It would work to connect the Park with adjacent neighborhoods; boosting activity and the quality of resources found in both. Through physical improvements, programming and local partnerships, a Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District will help the Park and its neighbors grow together for generations to come.

Additionally, we lend support to those with similar commitments to preserving land for public use. In 2006, for example, we created the Manhattan Waterfront Parks Coalition, the organization that successfully secured considerable funding for two key City projects-- the creation of Stuyvesant Cove Park and the complete restoration of Highbridge, the foot bridge connecting Manhattan to the Bronx.

During the summer months, we sponsor and support a variety of programs and events designed to attract visitors to the Park and showcase the Waterfront. We ask you to join our efforts, but first we invite you to discover the Park.