Press Releases
Rep. Nadler Announces $4.49 Million for Riverside Park South
Washington, DC,
February 25, 2009
Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) announced $4.49 million in new funding for park development in Manhattan.
At Rep. Nadler’s request, the funds were reprogrammed from two unobligated earmarks requested by a previous Member of Congress (dating from 1992 and 1993). Those funds were originally intended for the tunneling or burying of the Miller Highway, a project which lacked local community support. This reprogramming will now provide the New York City Parks Department with $4.49 million for large-scale improvements of Riverside Park South – located along the Hudson River between 59th and 72nd Streets – a community benefit which has won backing from a wide coalition of local stakeholders and advocates. The funding is included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which is expected to pass today in the House of Representatives. “I am very pleased to be able to redirect this $4.49 million to Riverside Park South, a project which will enhance the greening and livability of our city,” said Rep. Nadler. “After years of debating what to do with these unused funds, we have finally succeeded in winning broad community support and finding a productive use for the money. It was never the public’s responsibility to pay for the burying of the Miller Highway – that cost should have been borne by the developer.” “We are grateful to Congressman Nadler for allocating over $4.4 million to fully achieve our vision for Riverside Park South,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “When complete, this will be another waterfront park for the 21st century and another reason to live in, work in, and visit the Upper West Side.” The $4.49 million appropriated today comes on the heels of $6 million that Nadler previously redirected for Riverside Park South in 2008 through the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008, carried out with the support of Senators Schumer and Clinton in the Senate. |