Pier 42 Waterfront Park Officially Opens for Interim Use [PHOTOS]
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Pier 42 is finally ready for its interim use, inaugurated over the weekend with a Community Day as part of the New Museum’s Ideas City Festival. The launch of the park for public consumption was originally scheduled for November, but pushed back due to Hurricane Sandy. Pols and VIPs from an array of local grassroots organizations awoke early Saturday to cut the proverbial ribbon.
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State Senator Daniel Squadron delivered the commencement, and was followed by, among others, William Castro (Parks Department commissioner), Anne Frederick (Hester Street Collaborative), Victor Papa (Two Bridges Neighborhood Council), and Gigi Li (chair, Community Board 3).
Squadron further noted in a statement:
For years, Pier 42 sat nearly abandoned, blocking access to the waterfront in a community that needed it. Now, families can finally enjoy a picnic on the pier or a walk along the waterfront. And the innovative Paths to Pier 42 installation will make our waterfront even more accessible for all who visit. This interim recreational use on Pier 42 is a big step forward as we build the real, world-class waterfront park for which we’ve long fought and complete a Harbor Park — a central park for the center of our city. And this is only the beginning. Our community planning process will continue so that residents can make their voices heard on Pier 42’s final design. Thank you to Senator Schumer, the Parks Department, our colleagues in government, CB3, LMCC, and the Lower East Side Waterfront Alliance for making today possible.
Opening this small section of green space is phase one in the redevelopment of the waterfront property. A way to capitalize on the space while waiting for the bureaucratic gears to creak into action. Ground breaking on the actual capital works project will not begin for at least another year. Paths to Pier 42, an amalgamation of local movers and shakers, is in charge of programming here. Participating artists include Chat Travieso, Interboro Partners, Jennifer Wen Ma, and Mary Mattingly. Meantime, hours of operation are dawn to dusk.
A gallery of images from the event:
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