Trust President Robert Balachandran and cowboys ride in off the Hudson River Park bikeway.
It looked like a rodeo on the river — or maybe “City Slickers III” — last Wednesday as officials and the Hudson River Park Trust officially reopened a historic railroad float bridge in Chelsea at W. 27th St. in the Hudson River Park.
Wearing a 10-gallon hat and accompanied by members of the Black Federation of Cowboys, Robert Balachandran, the Trust’s president, came riding in off the bike path on horseback. Waiting for them were a group of park advocates — plus sheep and a cow.
The cowboys and livestock symbolized how, until as recently as 50 years ago, the Baltimore & Ohio Float Bridge was used to offload cattle and sheep from rail cars, headed for stockyards that used to be just to the north. The float bridge was also used to offload rail cars from barges for delivery to the B & O Freight Terminal, at 26th and West Sts.
Built of wood in 1954, the float bridge fell into disrepair after last being used in 1973 and became partially submerged, staying that way for several years. Through a joint effort of the Trust and New York State Department of Transportation, the bridge was lifted from the water in June 2001 and transferred to a Staten Island facility for restoration.
Now back in place, the bridge will no longer bob up and down but remain in a fixed position, and will serve as a viewing platform, small boat launch and historic educational element of Hudson River Park. This past summer it served as a launching spot for the Downtown Boathouse’s free kayaking program.
“This bridge is just one more example of our efforts to reconnect the people of Manhattan with the waterfront and all the rich history that exists there,” said Balachandran. Assemblymember Richard Gottfried and Councilmember Chris Quinn attended the ceremony.
From left, former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried and Balachandran in front of float bridge.
