The Battery Park City Neighborhood Association (BPCNA) was formed in June 2021 when Governor Cuomo and the Authority tried to pave over our green space, cut down mature trees and replace them a concrete Memorial.
Our mission is to act as a voice for residents of the downtown Manhattan community to ensure public input is heard and considered on all matters impacting the environmental, cultural, social and economic quality of life in the neighborhood.
We are a 501(c)3 organization [EIN 87-1561077] and 100% volunteer run. Our membership is broad and open to all residents of lower Manhattan.
As we are a volunteer-run organization with no operating budget, we do not have the resources to take on every issue in lower Manhattan and rely on partner organizations to lead on some issues (e.g. CB1, Battery Alliance, Homeowners Coalition, etc.)
Learn more about the BPCNA and who we are, our work and our positions on the key issues and how you can get involved. We can be reached at hello@bpcna.org.
In December 2022, we filed a lawsuit against the Battery Park City Authority to get them to meaningfully consider the community's greener, cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative design.
In February 2023, Judge Sabrina Kraus ruled that the Authority was not required to pick a better Alternative plan and did not rule in favor of the community. After careful consideration, the BPCNA voluntarily agreed to stop further legal action. For more details on our legal case and on #SaveWagnerPark or www.SaveWagner.com
100% of all money raised were used to fund the legal case (as of Mar'23).
Moving forward, all money raised will go towards a green spaces resiliency fund that will be applied to all resiliency projects in Battery Park. Funds may be used to hire independent experts, lawyers, etc.
We are saddened that our beloved Wagner Park has been demolished. Every single tree in the park we tried to save was cut down, specifically when there was a different design that could have saved the park and protected from climate risks.
The Sierra Club supported this Alternative Design. Read the November 2022 Sierra Club letter to the Authority and then the March 2023 Sierra Club to Governor Hochul.
See a list of CB1 letters and resolutions opposing the demolition of the park. See a list of them here.
