BY TRAVIS STEWART | On Fri., Jan. 29, the Friends of Hudson River Park inaugurated its new Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee with a gala luncheon at Pier 59 in Chelsea. Nearly 200 people attended the event, which was promoted as a benefit for the park’s maintenance, beautification, and operational needs.
The program was launched with a video presentation from style maven Martha Stewart, who had been expected to attend, but was forced to cancel at the last minute for work-related reasons. As an active member of the Friends of Hudson River Park, Stewart spoke about her longtime involvement with the park and the frequent use of its playgrounds by her two young grandchildren, Jude and Truman. She celebrated the fact that, thanks to the Friends, the “rotten old piers and warehouses” which used to dominate the West Side waterfront had been replaced by a “Verdant Belt.”
Next, Gregory Boroff, Executive Director of the Friends of Hudson River Park, spoke about the founding of the new Playground Committee, calling it “a game changer.” He handed the podium over to the Committee’s president Catherine Juracich, a self-described “active park user and playground devotee.”
Juracich talked about her three children and how, as parent with Southern origins, she originally found the prospect of raising children in an urban environment “daunting.” She spoke of hoping to “build a community of moms and dads and kids of all ages, from different schools, all working together to create more green spaces.”
Greg Wasserman, chairman of the capital campaign for Chelsea Waterside Play Area, spoke of the committee’s goal of raising $1.5 million to renovate the playground. Located at W. 23rd St. and 11th Ave., the Chelsea Waterside Play Area opened in 2000. In the 15 years since, there has been wear and tear, and concerned parents and activists have reported a variety of aesthetic and safety-related concerns — including drainage problems, degraded safety surfaces, sharp edges on playground equipment and several non-functioning park features.
Wasserman, an area resident whose two toddlers make frequent use of the park, mentioned his and the committee’s efforts to get community input into the park’s redesign, which included a charrette at the Hudson Guild earlier in the week. The committee’s plan is to raise money through fall of this year, when work on the park will begin with the goal of finishing work in time to re-open by spring 2017. He announced that a little over $1 million had already been raised. By the end of the event, a silent auction sponsored by Sotheby’s International Realty brought in an additional $50,000 for the project (high-bid items included a Pier 62 Carousel creation, a one-on-one cooking lesson with Chef Scott Conant, and a private dinner event at The Little Owl, a popular Mediterranean restaurant in the West Village).
Wasserman then introduced City Councilmember Corey Johnson of District 3, who announced that $820,000 in city capital funds make up a portion of the amount already in place. “The Chelsea Waterside Play Area is a remarkable gathering spot for our neighborhood families,” said Johnson. “I look forward to working with the community and Friends of Hudson River Park to make it even better. I can’t wait to see the faces of children as they play on the most updated playground equipment and enjoy their new surroundings.” He also mentioned new projects to revitalize Piers 57 and 76, and reminded the audience of plans for Pier 55, already announced and now in the design phase.
Johnson was followed by New York State Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, who began by reminding the audience that in the past, many opposed the creation of Hudson River Park, including Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Construction of the park began in 1994 (it is currently 70% complete). In light of these facts, Gottfried quoted the Chinese proverb “A serious task is a long path.” He then pledged $500,000 toward “comfort station” bathroom facilities for Chelsea Waterside Play Area, a feature that has long been desired.
The elected officials’ portion of the program was rounded out by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who commended those in attendance for being “good economic development ambassadors,” pointing out the positive impact that Hudson River Park has had on New York City’s quality of life. The program closed with “Mom Comedian” and author Karen Bergreen, who performed a few minutes of stand-up.
According to Wasserman, Friday’s event had three goals: “Educate attendees and the public about the mission of the Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee, build a community to help us advocate for our mission, and raise capital to support all of the Park’s offerings for children and families, including the reimagination of the Chelsea Waterside Play Area. By all measures, the Luncheon was an enormous success.”
For more information on the Chelsea Waterside Play Area Capital Campaign, or to make a tax-deductible gift, send an email ChelseaWaterside@fohrp.org or visit hudsonriverpark.org/ChelseaWaterside.
NOTE: This second paragraph of this article was clarified on Feb. 4, to delete a mistaken implication that Martha Stewart had been “the announced keynote speaker.”
