Friends' annual fundraising event provides a majority of the organization’s operating budget and helps us kick-off the annual park season. This year we will honor Lynden B. Miller for her contributions of thoughtful design and restoration to many of the public gardens in and around New York City; Skanska for their distinctive and attentive construction of much of Hudson River Park and other public spaces; and our own Board co-Chair, Ross Graham for her years of dedication and service to the New York State Senate, Manhattan’s West Side, and to Friends of Hudson River Park.
The evening will begin with a cocktail reception in Hudson River Park in the new Lynden B. Miller Garden in Chelsea Cove, followed immediately by dinner and a brief program in the Starrett-Lehigh Building Clerestory at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia headquarters on 26th Street and Hudson River Park with dessert and entertainment on the roof-top terrace. Martha Stewart is serving as Honorary Chair, and Bette Midler and Douglas Durst are serving as Dinner Co-Chairs.
For information about tickets, tables or advertising in the Dinner Journal for this hallmark event, contact Ellen Watson at 914-579-1000, or email gala@fohrp.org.
BOARD PROFILE
Ross Graham
Friends Board Co-Chair, Ross Graham has been a powerful voice for the communities of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Tribeca, and Clinton in their efforts to secure open space and public access to the Hudson for more than four decades.
In 1999, Ross joined with community activists, and, with the support of a coalition of major environmental, civic, and neighborhood groups, helped to found Friends of Hudson River Park. She had earlier served on the Board of the Hudson River Park Conservancy – the precursor organization to the Hudson River Park Trust, appointed by then-Borough President Ruth Messinger in 1992.
For thirty years, Ross was on the staff of New York State Senator Manfred Ohrenstein in Albany, first serving as his only staff person and then, after 1975 when he became Minority Leader, as his Chief of Staff. From 1986 through 1997, she was an active and energetic member of Community Board 4 representing Chelsea and Clinton, and served as Chair of the Board in 1993 and 1994.
Graham currently serves as a member of the State Commission on the Restoration of the Capitol in Albany and can frequently be found swimming in the pool at Chelsea Piers.
Support Friends
Why should you support Friends of Hudson River Park?
Friends is the only organization dedicated to the entire Hudson River Park, and we involve constituents from adjacent neighborhoods and Park users from all five boroughs of New York City.
Through aggressive lobbying in City Hall and Albany, Friends has already helped secure over half of the $400 million designated for capital costs of Hudson River Park. To complete the park, we need your help to secure $200 million more.
The majority of funding to build the Park has come from the City and State, but no public funding is used to operate and maintain Hudson River Park. We are committed to securing annual support for the Park’s ongoing operations so that Hudson River Park is never allowed to deteriorate from neglect.
Our tireless advocacy ensures that progress in the Park remains on track. Friends has won legal actions to ensure that construction of Hudson River Park continues. Friends protects the public’s interest in the Park, and we fight on behalf of the public to protect it. Your support strengthens our voice.
Friends’ members are remaking our Hudson River waterfront and improving quality of life for all New Yorkers with our City’s largest new park in over 150 years.
Your generosity makes all the difference.
“...The Park's leading advocacy group...”
- The Villager
|
|
Top Story February 2010
The Case for Funding:
Friends Staff in Albany to Advocate for Park Needs
New York State Capitol, Albany
On January 26, Friends’ Deputy Director Matthew S. Washington testified in Albany before a joint State Senate and Assembly Committee on the Environment regarding Hudson River Park funding. Washington spoke to the committee about the need for Governor Paterson and the State Legislature to keep sufficient funding dedicated to Hudson River Park, even in times of recession and to fulfill the commitment of the Hudson River Park Act of 1998. Governor Paterson’s Executive Budget released on January 19 included only $3 million for Hudson River Park construction – a 50% decrease from the previous year and insufficient for new projects to be initiated in the Park.
Read Matthew’s testimony.
On February 8 and 9, Friends Executive Director A.J. Pietrantone traveled with Hudson River Park Trust President Connie Fishman to meet with key legislative leaders to make the case for additional Park funding during these financially difficult times. The two not only presented the case for further investment in public space but provided suggestions for alternative ways to finance the required capital investment for the Park in addition to the current proposal through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund – which is under considerable stress from competing demands.
Without State funding, the Park risks losing matching City funding that is presently budgeted at $11 million, but will not be spent without an equal commitment from the State. Pietrantone and Fishman met with Assembly Members Glick, Rosenthal and Gottfried, and Senators Duane and Squadron who represent Hudson River Park districts, as well as other key supporters and staff from leadership and the Manhattan delegation. The meetings highlighted the need for Governor Paterson and the Legislature to keep needed funding dedicated to complete and sustain one of the State’s greatest parks, which, according to our 2008 study, enhances tax revenues through increased property values, and brings much-needed tourism dollars to New York City’s formerly desolate West Side waterfront.
Friends has also been making the case for strong continued funding of Hudson River Park in the press as well. Read our recent letters on the Park published in December in The New York Post, and in January in The Albany Times Union.
Get Involved
Contact Albany - Insist on Enough Resources
to Keep Construction Moving Forward 
Let elected officials know that Hudson River Park needs their full support, now more than ever. Suggested email.
Contact NY Governor David Paterson.
Contact NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Contact Ways and Means Chair Denney Farrell.
Contact Senate Majority Leader John Sampson.
Contact your elected representative in Albany.
More News
State Supreme Court Upholds Friends' Effort
|
|
| Sanitation Building Scheduled for Demolition to Make Room for New Space in Hudson River Park. |
On January 12, the NY State Supreme Court upheld the Friends of Hudson River Park 2005 settlement with the City of New York and the Hudson River Park Trust setting a timetable for the Dept. of Sanitation’s (DOS) departure from the Gansevoort Peninsula and Pier 97, as well as providing compensation for Park construction on those sites.
(Read the Judge’s ruling.)
Friends originally filed suit because the City had missed multiple deadlines for removing its sanitation facilities and operations as required by the Hudson River Park Act. The settlement was challenged by opponents of the current DOS plan to build a three-district garage on Spring Street to house the relocated operations.
The Friends’ press release on the judge’s ruling.
Read Friends' statement on a better alternative to the Spring Street Garage.
“Hudson Square Sanitation Lawsuit Dismissed by Judge”, The Downtown Express.
Pier 84 Pet Parade Featured on Animal Planet
|
|
| Daphne the Bulldog Awaits her Walk Down the Red Carpet. |
In January, Animal Planet’s Underdog to Wonderdog program featured a segment on the annual Pier 84 Pet Parade and Fall Festival sponsored by Friends of Hudson River Park, the Friends of Pier 84 and the 44th Street Better Block Association.
See some of the many participating pets on You Tube.
Featured Photo
It’s February and winter has come to Hudson River Park. This icy picture of the Hudson was taken by Lisa M. Rubin, Director of Recreation, Permits & Special Events of the Hudson River Park Trust – the state-city agency that builds and operates Hudson River Park.
We encourage you to share your favorite Park photos with us. For each newsletter, we select a photo that best captures some aspect of the Park and its community of users. If you don’t see your photos here, look for them in the Photo Gallery section of our website. Send your photos to photos@fohrp.org. Plan to join us later this year for a variety of events in and around the Park.
Friends on Facebook
 Friends of Hudson River Park is now on Facebook.
Join our group page today.
|