New Group Seeks Upgrades for City Hall Park
A new team of advocates has coalesced to push for upgrades to historic City Hall Park. At the April 15 meeting of the Waterfront, Parks & Cultural Committee of Community Board 1, April Krishnan, the board president of the newly formed City Hall Park Conservancy (CHPC), explained, “our goal is to increase engagement and appreciation of the park, not only through horticultural improvements, but also through sponsored free programming, as well as rethinking recreation and rest spaces.”
She added, “despite its eight-acre size, this green space has become overlooked and under-utilized,” continuing, “the physical spaces of the park are difficult to navigate and not optimized for recreational or multiple uses.”
A poll conducted by CHPC found that almost 70 percent of Lower Manhattan residents think of City Hall Park as “something to pass through,” and more than 40 percent said their primary use for the space was dog walking. But the same poll indicated that more than 60 percent of respondents would like to see more gardening, horticulture, and tree planting in City Hall Park, while 50 percent-plus would welcome additional art programs.
Guided by these results, CHPC is seeking to initiate long-term horticultural improvements, with priority given to native, low-maintenance plantings. The group wants to help repair the park’s irrigation systems, and design new (and more numerous) seating choices, along with additional pathways and lawns. Also on the agenda is educational programming, including signs that offer information about new plantings, and content to raise awareness of City Hall Park’s history. Finally, the Conservancy wants to create new spaces for programming and community events, as well as a work area for volunteers.
Over the longer term, CHPC hopes to build support for the construction of new public bathrooms, water fountains, and bike safety facilities. In the meantime, two initial areas of focus will be the Broadway lawn (near Warren Street) and the Parterre/ Fountain Circle area at the park’s southern vertex, where Park Row merges into Broadway. CHPC has produced preliminary designs for how these area might be refurbished, and has begun the process of seeking funding from sources such as the City Council and grant-making foundations.
The group is also now sponsoring regular events in City Hall Park, such as chess tournaments, tai chi and weekday yoga, children’s book readings, and volunteer gardening on the second Saturday of each month. For more information, or to inquire about volunteering, please browse chpc-nyc.org, or email info@chpc-nyc.org.