Community Input to Drive Concepts for Temporary Transformation of Half-Acre Hardscape Adjacent to South Battery Park City Resiliency Project
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The Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) today announced efforts to engage the public in the development of concepts for the activation of open public space across the street from Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park during the two years of construction for the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project. The currently-hardscaped space, measuring more than 24,000 square feet (approximately .55 acres) and running from Battery Place to 3rd Place along the Hudson River Greenway, offers an array of potential opportunities for use by residents and visitors of all ages – from fitness and active recreation, to lounging and social seating – in line with New York City Department of Transportation’s NYC Plaza Program. In the weeks ahead, BPCA will work with community groups, including those focused on recreation programs for children and seniors, to identify ideas about the programming, furniture, fixtures, and equipment desired to activate this area in line with the community’s vision.
“Over the past 30 years and in consultation with a broad base of local stakeholders, the Battery Park City Authority has developed some of the best 36 acres of public space in New York City. We’re excited to continue that legacy when activating this new location, again in close partnership with our local community,” said BPCA President and Chief Executive Officer B.J. Jones. “We invite you to share your vision for how you’d like to use this space by completing the online survey and attending Community Board meetings in the months ahead.”
“Resiliency projects like the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project are vitally important as we prepare our waterfront communities for rising sea levels and storms, but they don’t come without short-term cost, including the loss of open space for our neighbors during construction. We must find alternative open space for the community while the project is underway,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I applaud the Battery Park City Authority for exploring space between Battery Place and 3rd Place, and look forward to their public engagement process. Solicitation of ideas from local residents will be key to successfully activating this space.”
“I’m very glad that the Battery Park City Authority is taking these steps to activate new open play spaces in the Battery Park City community and find innovative ways to mitigate the temporary impacts of resiliency work,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Battery Park City. “Centering the needs and feedback of the community in this process is important, and I thank B.J. Jones and the BPCA for their commitment to a thorough public engagement process. I encourage all residents of Battery Park City to get involved and share their ideas for this space.”
“We are glad to see that efforts are being put into finding feasible alternatives for BPC residents and I am hopeful that the community process will lead to a space well-suited to community needs,” said Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. “The importance of greenspace cannot be overstated, and we must prioritize the maintenance and creation of these spaces in all neighborhoods as the city continues to grow. I urge the BPCA to continue addressing community concerns and engaging with residents.”
“I am pleased to see that the BPCA is moving forward with the communities request by expanding and protecting green space square footage. I appreciate their efforts in working with local residents and advocates on the issues of alternative recreation concepts during the construction of a much needed resiliency project. Dialogue is critical during this period and we will continue to work with the community and the Authority during the duration of this project and future projects,” said Assemblymember Charles D. Fall.
“We look forward to the community being able to have their voices heard and listened to as part of this public dialogue,” said City Council Member Christopher Marte. “Our office will continue to work with residents, neighbors, and the Authority to ensure that this additional recreation space meets the needs of the neighborhood.”
The Community Board welcomes this opportunity for the public to help create more active and passive play spaces, said Manhattan Community Board 1 Chairperson, Tammy Meltzer. “With the many changes ahead, we urge the BPCA to be flexible and scale up to meet the needs of the community during and after construction. We look forward to a dynamic and robust discussion.”
Today’s announcement follows the announcement of nearly 13,000 additional square feet of open lawn space announced last month as part of the SBPCR’s final designs, in response to feedback from local elected officials and community stakeholders, and reflects the BPCA’s sensitivity to the impact that the coming closures will have on those who rely on Wagner Park for relaxation and play space. To jumpstart the conversation, BPCA has evaluated the site for opportunities and developed a preliminary suite of conceptual options, including an assortment of ground treatments for safety and placemaking; layouts for modular and temporarily pop-up play, exercise, and passive recreation spaces; and examples from other locations to highlight site visibility.
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