In 2012, Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who was born and raised on the Lower East Side, was talking to a friend about the potential of certain areas along the East River that were then completely abandoned.
In those years, he formed an NGO to help the community and the idea of transforming part of that environment arose. Understanding that any effort required resources, he also gathered a group of people to take the first steps to raise the money and involve others.
Twelve years later, the ribbon was cut yesterday afternoon for the official opening of the Pier 42 Playground. This latest phase revealed separate play areas for different age groups, tennis, soccer and basketball courts, an adult gym, renovated restrooms and a new comfort station with picnic tables.
Located between the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges, this new project will initially impact Lower East Side residents, particularly those in the half-dozen 20-plus-story community housing projects fronting the always-managed Roosevelt East River Drive.
“But the idea is that this transformation reaches all the way to 14th Street,” says Councilwoman Rivera, who represents the second district, which includes neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy and Murray Hill-Kips Bay.
Rivera boasted that a little more than a billion dollars are available for the transformation of the east side of Manhattan and agreed with all the speakers that “when all the actors who can set themselves the goal of achieving changes” for the benefit of the communities come together, projects such as the one presented to society yesterday are completed.
Manhattan West always ahead
Historically, the area adjacent to the Hudson River, west of Manhattan, has always benefited from projects that attract not only tourism, but also the large local community.
The city recently invested in building Little Island, which has become a tourist attraction, as well as the High Line, a pedestrian walkway built on an old, abandoned elevated train track. These constructions were joined by tennis courts, bowling alleys, cruise ship ports, a large bike path overlooking New Jersey neighborhoods, and even the Intrepid Museum on an old U.S. Navy ship, anchored off 46th Street.
“It was obvious that if you looked at the parks on the west side of Manhattan, you could see that there have always been more resources and investment,” admits Carlina Rivera, who nevertheless takes it as a personal challenge: “Now we are entering a competition to find those resources, because the families on this side also deserve it,” she adds.
He said that, for now, the changes will include investment in many areas such as music and art programs, as well as the sports facilities that were inaugurated yesterday. Finally, it is a competition to beautify both parts of the city in which the winners are the citizens favored by the infrastructure works.
Although not everyone agrees.
One of the dissatisfied neighbours who yesterday went to complain to the officials who had gathered to cut the cordon is called Alina Gavrila.
Originally from Romania, Gavrila lives in one of the community housing projects across from Pier 42 and says she was excited to have another park. She admits that the only requirement for bringing her 4 1/2-year-old daughter is that there is no shade to protect the children who choose this park. Some trees that were planted in the renovation barely reach six feet in height, and there are other areas where not a single one was planted.
“We want shade,” Gavrila insists. “Today’s speakers couldn’t stand the heat after twenty minutes. How do they expect children to spend hours playing on this asphalt island? I don’t think even the water fountains will be enough,” he says.
New York’s parks: A fascinating history
From the early days when waves of European citizens settled in the City, until today, the history of local parks and how they have developed to almost 30 thousand acres of green areas, is always worth remembering.
The greatest push for this cause came in April 1686, when the then governor Thomas Dongan ordered, through the Dongan Charter, that “all vacant lands, not patented or appropriated” should be under the care of the municipality.
With that start in 1733, Bowling Green Park was inaugurated, the first official park in New York City that in nine years will be celebrating 300. From there to the formation of Central Park in 1871 after the city acquired 84 acres, already with the creation of the new Department of Public Parks. Going through the construction in the last decade of the 19th century, of Prospect Park on the grounds of what was the Litchfield Villa. Without leaving aside the beginning of the playground model where public recreation was openly invited. Until reaching the management of the president of the Metropolitan Conference of Parks of the Parks Association of New York, Robert Moses, who implemented the modern park system that we know today.
The opening of Pier 42 Playground on the Lower East Side is just one more step in that tradition.
That is why it is relevant what New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said: that this investment of 33.6 million dollars in this first phase is reflected in “years of planning and work to deliver a vibrant space facing the river.”
Commissioner Donohue stressed that the presentation will benefit “generations to come” who may already be able to witness the growth of the trees and their much-desired shade.
For his part, Joshua Kraus, director of infrastructure for New York City Economic Development, highlighted how these 8 acres that functioned as a parking lot were transformed “thanks to the work of passionate people” who made it possible. He was grateful to be part of the team and sent a message to the community: “Enjoy your park!”
New York City Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Tom Foley hailed what was “a beautiful day,” but he focused on highlighting “the four miles of improvements to the lives” of New Yorkers on the East Side of Manhattan.
Before moving on to cut the ribbon for the renovation of Pier 42, Council Member Christopher Marte recalled that a renovated open space like this, “with people in mind,” plays a key role in advancing New York City’s Vital Parks initiative, ensuring access to outdoor recreation spaces for all New Yorkers.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the aforementioned play areas will be operational, as well as the climbing area, the musical instrument area, the showers with sprinklers and the swings.
Meanwhile, the fight by those who want the area near the East River to resemble the west side of Manhattan has just closed a chapter.
Many New Yorkers are eagerly awaiting the next round, the next renewal.
The playground
- Official Name: Pier 42 Playground.
- Location: East River Greenway, at Montgomery St. & South St.
- Nearest subway station: East Broadway, F line.