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WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE! NY Judge Sabrina Kraus has denied our request regarding Wagner Park. Stay tuned

WAGNER PARK UPDATE

Background

Our beloved park, Wagner Park -- the heart and soul of our community, is at risk of being demolished by the Battery Park City Authority and their AECOM contractors -- the same firm that led the East River Park destruction.


We Have a Better, Alternative Design

The community has an Alternative Design, created by renowned architects and landscape designers who worked on the Battery Park City Master Plan and originally designed Wagner Park.  Our plan prioritizes green infrastructure, minimal impact and meaningful community engagement. This plan will provide the same level of protection from climate risk while keeping Wagner Park intact. 


We Went to Court to Get the Authority to Meaningfully Consider Our Better Plan

In December 2022, the BPCNA filed a petition asking for work to be paused to give meaningful consideration to a better, less destructive resiliency plan. We received a court-ordered agreement will prohibit any demolition on Wagner Park until court evaluates the legal violations alleged by the Community. Read the Press Release. The Authority answered our petition on Jan 13, 2023 and we submitted our response at the end of Jan 2023. 


UPDATE

Unfortunately, NY court judge Sabrina Kraus denied our request and issued her judgement on Feb 10, 2023. We are evaluating options and net steps.


All money that we continue to raise will go into the fund to be used for Wagner Park legal next steps and potentially to start working on the Northwest project. Donate Today or Zelle us at hello@bpcna.org (we are a 501c3 organization) 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WAGNER ALTERNATIVE DESIGN

WE HAVE A BETTER PLAN TO PROTECT FROM CLIMATE RISK


Learn here about the Community's Alternative Design plan developed by the original architects and designers of Wagner Park, Olin and Machado Silvetti. See the Alternative 1A Design Presentation


National Register-Eligible Wagner Park was built in 1996 and constructed with resiliency in mind for a 100-year flood.


For more information, go to SAVE WAGNER.




BPCNA FORMED TO SAVE ROCKEFELLER

The Battery Park City Neighborhood Association was formed in June 2021 when Governor Cuomo and the Authority tried to pave over ten to twenty percent of the green space, cut down mature trees and replace them a concrete Essential Workers Memorial.


We protested. Our community united and the BPCNA formed. We we able to #PausetheSaws. It resulted in an apology by the Authority and we thought they learned their lesson.


We are a fully volunteer-run organization with no membership dues nor operating budget. We raise only based on a specific need.  If you are interested in playing a leadership role in the BPCNA, get in touch at hello@bpcna.org

WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

BATTERY PARK RESIDENTS LACK FAIR REPRESENTATION


Battery Park City Authority is governed by a board of seven unelected bureaucrats that are appointed by the Governor.  Many get their seats by donating to the Governor (see Aug 2022 NY Times article / past NY Times article 2018) and have little to no ties to the Battery Park City community. The one board member that lives here, Martha Gallo, is out of touch.


There is significant friction and mistrust between the Authority and the community.


On June 3, 2022, the New York State Legislature passed a bill, with an overwhelming majority, that will require BPC residents compose a majority of the Authority board. The then Authority hired a lobbyist to silence the community, deprive us of our fundamental democratic right to fair representation and ensure that we do not have a seat at the table. Unfortunately, their lobbying was successful and the Governor vetoed the bill on November 21, 2022. 


We believe that all people should have a voice in all decisions impacting their community.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

DONATE TO LEGAL FUND

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

DONATE TO LEGAL FUND

Join us - people who are working to protect this urban oasis for future generations. We are taking legal action to prevent the demolition. All funds will be strictly used to cover legal fees incurred.


As of Feb 2023, we spent $10,000 for lawyers to review FEIS and outline our case; $20,000 to write our petition, affidavits, file the paperwork etc. and ~$10,000 to issue our response to the Authority's Jan 13 2023 response.


Donations are tax deductible [see IRS letter]

DONATE TO LEGAL FUND

SIGN PETITIONS

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

DONATE TO LEGAL FUND

Join thousands who have signed a petition asking for a resiliency plan that provides flood protection without demolishing Wagner Park


Sign Petition for Smart Resiliency for Lower Manhattan


Join thousands who have called for fair representation for Battery Park City residents so we have a voice in all decisions impacting our neighborhood


Sign Petition for Majority Local Representation on the BPCA Board 


SIGN HERE TO SAVE WAGNER

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA


Help us raise awareness and find us on Twitter at


@BPCNA_official

@SaveWagnerPark

@PausetheSaws


For those of you not on Twitter, please consider joining and setting up an account! It’s easier than you think, and our elected officials are listening. Don't forget #SaveWagnerPark


Join our Facebook group

Follow-us on Instagram


FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

ELECTED OFFICIALS

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

CALL

Senator Kavanagh: (212) 298-5565


EMAIL

fallc@nyassembly.gov, 

District1@council.nyc.gov,

Mark.Levine@manhattanbp.nyc.gov,  

kavanagh@nysenate.gov,

kathryn.garcia@exec.ny.gov, nicole.migliore@exec.ny.gov,    


Copy hello@bpcna.org to ensure we have a record!

Template Email

GET INVOLVED

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

The BPCNA always needs volunteers!  We are always looking for help on social media, put up flyers, post information on Whatsapp, join community board 1 meetings, attend BPCA board meetings and more.


Interested in being involved, contact hello@bpcna.org 


Interested in joining our board, contact us!



GET IN TOUCH

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

WAGNER PARK LEGAL SUIT

On December 14, 2022, the BPCNA filed a petition against the Battery Park City Authority. See all the Legal Files including the Legal Petition


Read the BPCNA Press Release









DONATE TODAY

LETTERS AND RESPONSES

Letters and Announcements

2022-11 Sierra Club Supports Alternative Design

2022-11 Community Groups Write Joint Letter in Support of Alternative Design

2022-09 BPCNA Announces Creation of Alternative Design Team

2022-08 Niou, Fall and Community Groups Letter to Authority

2022-08 Levine, Kavanagh and Marte Letter to Authority

2022-07 BPCNA’s Reply to the Authority about Outdated Science

2022-07 Critique by Jeffry Burchard, Associate Professor of Architecture at Harvard University and Principal at Machado Silvetti

2022-06 BPCNA’s Letter to the Authority with Open Questions on Wagner Park

2022-06 BPC Committee Meeting Resiliency Presentation

2022-05 Critique by Nader Tehrani, Dean of Architecture of the Cooper Union 

2022-04 Fall Letter to Governor Hochul

Laurie Olin on Designing Wagner Park


2022-12 EIS Scoping Feedback on Northwest Project


2022-07 BPCNA Letter About Authority Hiring Lobbyist to Defeat Majority Representation Bills

2022-05 BPCNA Letter to Hochul's Office on Votes of No Confidence

2022-05 BPCNA Issues Vote of No Confidence in Regards to Authority

2022-05 Battery Alliance Issues Vote of No Confidence in Regards to Authority

2022-05 Homeowner Coalition Issues Vote of No Confidence in Regards to Authority

2022-04 Fall Letter to Governor Hochul

2022-04 Fall asking Governor Hochul for Fair Representation for BPC [Twitter]


2021-07 BPCNA Letter to Authority About Alternative Siting Liaison Group 

2021-07 BPCNA Letter to Authority Regarding Essential Workers Monument in Rockefeller Park

2021-06 Niou Kavanagh Glick Nadler Letter to Authority on Essential Workers Monument

2021-06 Chin Letter to Authority on Essential Workers Monument


NYC NYC’s Appeal of 2015 FEMA flood projections 

Better Waterfront New York City’s flood hazard maps found to be inaccurate; so what    about Hoboken?

Columbia's Dr. Klejda Bega Video explanation on faulty data and science 

NYC 2015 FEMA Storm Surge Model Inaccurate

White House Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Roadmap for Nature-Based Solutions to Fight Climate Change, Strengthen Communities, and Support Local Economies

White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Nature-Based-Solutions-Roadmap.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE NATURE- BASED SOLUTIONS:
A ROADMAP FOR CLIMATE PROGRESS, THRIVING NATURE, EQUITY, & PROSPERITY


PRESS AND MEDIA

The Cultural Landscape Foundation Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park at Risk

The Cultural Landscape Foundation Potential Reasons for Redeveloping Wagner Park

New York Times A Plan to Save a Beloved Park Has Angered Its Biggest Fans

Be the Change Podcast Save Wagner Park - The Greenwashing of NYC

Broadsheet Holding Back the Tide


The City Battery Park City Flood Protection Project Moves Ahead, After Court Denies Request for Pause

Tribeca Citizen Wagner Park construction paused after neighbors sue

Commercial Observer Wagner Park’s Construction Halted Thanks to Lawsuit From Neighborhood Group

The City Plan to Destroy, Then Rebuild Wagner Park Halted as Opposition Sues

Law360 NYC Locals Sue To Block 'Spiritless' $221M Wagner Park Plan

CBS New York Project to demolish Wagner Park in Battery Park City put on hold

Broadsheet Park Project Paused

Fox5 Lower Manhattan residents object to demolition of Wagner Park

Broadsheet A Squall in the Park

Daily News The wrong Battery Park City resiliency plan

amNY Manhattan community calls on Hochul to let expert panel revise Wagner Park Resiliency Plan

New York Times Five Ways to Prevent the Next Sandy

Tribeca Tribune With Wagner Park Set to Close for Two years, New Space May Take its Place

amNY Battery Park City residents collaborate with Battery Park City Authority regarding construction project

Tribeca Citizen In the News: Wagner Park neighbors get some attention

Tribeca Tribune Lots More Lawn in Wagner Park Redo, a Response to Critics Cries

The Village Sun B.P.C.A pledges '10 more trees, expanded lawn space as contentious Wagner Park raze-and-rebuild resiliency project set to start

NY1 Community Pushback to Battery Park City Resiliency Project Leads to Proposed Changes

Patch Battle At Battery Park City Over State Plan To Plow Under Waterfront Green

NY1 Zeldin joins Battery Park residents opposed to coastal construction

NY Post Lee Zeldin joins locals fighting flood project on Battery Park City waterfront

WSJ Oped A Tiny Park Becomes a Sacrifice to the Climate-Change Gods

NY NBC Locals Rally to Halt $220M Plan They Say Will Ruin Popular Manhattan Waterfront Park

The City Battle at Battery Park City Over State Plan to Plow Under Waterfront Green

Gothamist Battery Park City residents rally as Wagner Park overhaul project looms

The City Three Local Issues NY-10's Next Member of Congress Could Actually Influence

NY1 NY10 Candidate Brian Robinson advocates for more green space

Tribeca Citizen The future Wagner Park will get a little greener as of yesterday

NY Post NYC's Battery Park City flood plan is all wet

Westview Oped Green vs. Greed

The Village Sun Coastal resiliency Report

The Village Sun Battery Park City community groups push for pause on Wagner Park

The City In Battery Park City, Another Plan to Destroy a Green Space In order to Save It

eBroadsheet CB1 Opposes Demolition of Wagner Park Pavilio

Tribeca Tribune Goodbye to Today's Wagner Park. Two Years of Resiliency Redo Lies Ahead

The Architect's Newspaper Coastal resilience project could threaten one of Manhattan’s finest postmodern parks

Gothamist Bloomberg Wants to Create 'Seaport City' to Save NYC From Global Warming


Downtown Battery Park City Authority Turns Resiliency Planning Over to New Yorkers

Tribeca Tribune Duck Pond May be Casualty of Massive BPC Flood Protection Project


NY1 Battery Park City residents celebrate pause in plans for the ‘Circle of Heroes’ monument

New York Times Battery Park Monument for Essential Workers Paused After Protests

Hyperallergic Urged by Battery Park City Locals, Work Paused on Essential Workers Monument

Gothamist Locals Protest Cuomo's Plan To Install Essential Workers Monument In Battery Park City

ArtNet Downtown New Yorkers Protest Governor Cuomo’s Plan for a $3 Million Monument to Essential Workers, Saying They Weren’t Consulted

NY Post Cuomo slammed for taking Rockefeller Park space for concrete COVID memorial

Pix 11 Battery Park City residents: Not opposed to essential workers monument, just want a say

Tribeca Citizen Six trees coming down in Rockefeller Park — maybe today

Irish Central Irish influence helps deliver Irish Hunger Memorial "triumph"

Irish Central AOH criticizes Cuomo's plans to build essential worker memorial at Irish Hunger Memorial

Irish Central Anger that new NYC memorial could "undermine" Irish Hunger Memorial

Irish Central Compromise and controversy: Irish Hunger Memorial drama continues

Tribeca Citizen The state will find a new location for the monument to essential workers

The Architect's Newspaper Manhattan’s Circle of Heroes monument to essential workers will be moved after community uproar

Daily News Cuomo's Essential Worker Monument

Broadsheet Pause the Saws

ABC Channel 7 Residents near Battery Park protest monument to essential workers

Curbed Battery Park City Is Fighting Yet Another Cuomo Monument

NY State Governor Cuomo Unveils New Renderings for Essential Workers Monument


Downtown Magazine BPCNA Block Party Celebrates 2 Bill Wins

Tribeca Citizen Neighborhood Association Will Host Online Meeting to Discuss Urgent Concerns


Tribeca Tribune Battery Park City now has a neighborhood association


For Press Inquiries

Contact Hello@bpcna.org

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We promise not to spam you, and your email address will not be shared with advertisers!

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPCNA IS A 501C3 AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

BPC Neighborhood Association | EIN 87-1561077

New York, New York 10282, United States

HELLO@BPCNA.ORG


Copyright © 2022 BPCNA - All Rights Reserved.

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