Securing the Future for Hudson River Park

First envisioned over 20 years ago, Hudson River Park is now well on its way to becoming an unparalleled urban waterfront park.

The original dream of Hudson River Park, driven by the desire for unfettered access to the waterfront, saw the potential for a five-mile park along the Hudson to the west of Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen, with a grand boulevard running between them. It also called for a park that would be financially self-sufficient.

The Park currently receives no government funding for operations and maintenance, and is instead supported through private donations and limited commercial revenues generated within the Park.
To protect it from falling into disrepair, the Park requires a reliable source of funding to finance its upkeep, and additional resources to finance its capital construction and operations. Such revenue streams will ensure it remains the treasured part of New York City life that it has become and a continued source of value for surrounding neighborhoods. This financing can also be used to complete the surrounding street environment as it was originally envisioned and expand the impact and appeal of the Park.

Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District

Friends of Hudson River Park has proposed creating an improvement district along the entire length of the Park to provide a stable, predictable source of Park financing and better link the Park to its neighborhoods. It would be a public-private partnership established by a district service plan, approved by the City and governed by a Board representative of the Hudson River Park community. The proposed improvement district can create a funding stream for the Park of greater certainty and regularity than any other option for generating additional resources.

Friends’ landmark 2008 study, “The Impact of Hudson River Park on Property Values” found that the Park was directly responsible for 20% of the increase in value to properties in Greenwich Village within an adjacent three block radius, with effects taking place as soon as Park construction became visible. The study clearly confirmed the Park’s value as a community investment, which provides the public with open-space, recreation facilities and waterfront access.

The dependable revenue stream provided by an improvement district will assure that the completed Park is well maintained. Funds would be used to help maintain the Park; improve streetscapes, pedestrian access and safety in neighborhoods adjacent to the Park; and for other discretionary projects that would enhance the relationship between the two.

Establishing an Improvement District

The formation of an improvement district requires the input and participation of the local community to best determine priorities for the use of resources and to confirm neighborhood needs. A district needs survey, face-to-face meetings with property owners, community representatives and public officials are the primary vehicles for this input. In the spring of 2011, a district needs survey was conducted throughout the proposed district. Through it data was gathered on the most pressing needs in the area. The results provided useful insights for the drafting of the district plan.

Friends began this conversation many years ago and is grateful for the input of residents, elected officials, community board members and block associations that have helped shape the current proposal.

What an Improvement District can do for Hudson River Park and its Surrounding Communities

Much more than just a funding mechanism, the Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District would partner with the Hudson River Park Trust to ensure that the surrounding neighborhoods improve and prosper together for many generations.

Physical Improvements

While providing for the long-term maintenance of Hudson River Park, an improvement district will also be able to enhance access to the Park, creating safe and inviting connections to the Park and tackling projects such as planting the east side of the West Side Highway and its medians, creating pedestrian and family-friendly crossings to the Park and linking the Park to nearby public spaces.

Easy Safe Crossings,    Green Inviting Spaces	Limited Crossings, Unsafe Forbidding Spaces

Programming and Partnerships

Natural partners for programming and linking physical improvements in the Park include cultural attractions such as the Whitney Museum and the Chelsea Galleries, 12 other neighborhood parks, including DeWitt Clinton Park and the High Line and many other commercial and public attractions to the east of the Park.

Financial Security

A Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District can deliver the funding required to realize the original vision of a park that comes across the road to meet its neighbors at home.

Download an Overview of the project