100% of all tax-deductible contributions go to our legal fund
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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)
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.
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
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.
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]
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
Help us raise awareness and find us on Twitter at
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
CALL
Senator Kavanagh: (212) 298-5565
Mark.Levine@manhattanbp.nyc.gov,
kathryn.garcia@exec.ny.gov, nicole.migliore@exec.ny.gov,
Copy hello@bpcna.org to ensure we have a record!
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!
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
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
2022-07 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 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
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
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
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
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
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