Embracing the notion that Hudson River Park is, indeed, for everyone, we are active participants in the communities bordering the Park and frequently collaborate with its many stakeholders. We are a strong and constant presence at Community Board meetings, and we frequently seek out environmental and other advocacy groups who share our commitment to completing the Park.

We also join forces with community organizations when necessary legal action is taken to ensure that the land designated as public space under the Hudson River Park Act is preserved and developed for that purpose. During the past two years, for example, we acted as co-plaintiffs in lawsuits that have established much needed agreements to remove sanitation trucks from the Gansevoort area of the Park and end tourist flights at the 30th Street Heliport.

Besides advocating for our own mission, we lend support to those with similar commitments to preserving land for public use. One of our most successful collaborations occurred in 2006 when we created the Manhattan Waterfront Parks Coalition, the organization that secured considerable funding for two key City projects—$3 million for the creation of Stuyvesant Cove Park and $60 million for the complete restoration of Highbridge, the foot bridge connecting Manhattan to the Bronx.

Finally, our programs and events, taking place during the warmer months, are designed to attract visitors to the Park and to build support for Friends’ mission, while involving both surrounding neighborhood and underserved communities throughout New York.