|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7,
2008
COURT: UNION SQUARE PARK NORTH
END RENOVATION PROJECT CAN MOVE
FORWARD
The New York Supreme Court today lifted
restrictions temporarily imposed on the City of New York and
is allowing the Department of Parks & Recreation to
proceed with its plan to renovate and rehabilitate Union
Square Park. Justice Jane S. Solomon
determined that “the community would suffer tremendous harm if
the Parks Department is prevented from implementing the badly
needed improvements to the comfort stations, playground and
Greenmarket, in addition to rehabilitating the dilapidated
Pavilion.”
“Today’s decision is a victory for our community and
the many proponents of the project who have been working
tirelessly for the last six years to complete the renovation
of Union Square Park,” said Union Square Partnership Executive
Director Jennifer Falk. “By removing the temporary restraining
order, the court is allowing construction to move forward,
including the rehabilitation of the pavilion, the tripling of
the size of the playground, and the upgrading of the north end
plaza that is home to our Greenmarket partners.
The Union Square Partnership is pleased that the legal
impediment to the project has been removed and work can
proceed.”
“We are gratified by the court’s decision to allow us
to proceed with the renovation of Union Square Park’s northern
end without further delay,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian
Benepe. “By removing the temporary
restraining order, the court is allowing construction to move
forward, which will result in a dramatically enlarged
playground, a restored plaza and pavilion, and many more
trees. This decision is in the best
interest of the community and we look forward to proceeding
with this much needed
restoration.”
Chris Reo, the Law Department’s attorney, said, “We
are very pleased with Judge Solomon’s decision.
The City will now be able move forward with the
rehabilitation and renovation of Union Square Park, which will
restore the park’s historic pavilion, triple the
playground space, plant more trees, improve the public
restrooms, and better support the
Greenmarket.”
The proposed renovations are part of an ongoing
comprehensive program for the restoration and enhancement of
the City’s park resources. The Parks
Department has sought and received public comment on the
project, which has been approved by the Art Commission and
supported by the local community board. The
principal purposes are to rehabilitate physically deteriorated
features of Union Square Park and to maximize its
accessibility and
usability.
The North End Project includes tripling the existing
two playgrounds from 5,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet;
new lighting and landscaping including planting trees along
the northern and western perimeters of the park and around the
playground; repaving the public plaza in a decorative
hex-block pattern; rehabilitating the historic Pavilion;
electrical and water connections for the Greenmarket, avoiding
the need for noisy, fume-emitting generators; and new
ADA-compliant public restrooms for park
users.
- 30 -
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate O’Brien Ahlers/Connie Pankratz for NYC Law
Department
(212) 788-0400
Lee Silberstein/Shane Kavanagh for the Union Square
Partnerhip
(212) 889-0808
| 
