West Side Thruway Takes a Scenic Turn Into History

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West Side Thruway Takes a Scenic Turn Into History
Henry Hudson Parkway Recommended for New York State Scenic Byway Status After Four Month Push
By Lauren Melnick
Spectator Staff Writer

March 29, 2005

Former city planner Robert Moses’ dream of the “great highway that went uptown along the water” is close to achieving another dream: it may soon become an official New York State Scenic Byway.

A section of the Henry Hudson Parkway stretching along the West Side of Manhattan from W 72nd Street to the Bronx/Westchester border was recently recommended for scenic byway status by the Hudson River Valley Greenway, a state agency which works with local organizations to preserve regional scenic, natural, and historic points of interest. If the recommendation passes, the Parkway will become the first scenic byway in New York City.

A scenic byway designation would make the area surrounding the highway eligible for federal and state scenic byway funding and would eliminate competition with other transportation projects such as mass transit. Hudson River communities in Manhattan would have access to free technical advice, community planning or project grants, leverage for other transportation and grants from councilman, restoration of lands that have been neglected, and public open spaces for art. It could even lead to more green space and better preservation of nearby parks.

The New York State Scenic Byways Program, created in 1992, is a locally-driven effort designed to bring attention to the roadway corridors in the state that have regionally significant scenic, natural, recreational, cultural, historic, or archaeological resources.

The designation is a victory for some New York City groups that have been campaigning to turn the Parkway into a scenic byway for several months. The Henry Hudson Parkway Task Force, a subgroup of the Riverdale Nature Preservancy, has led the way. They have worked with groups including the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council and New Yorkers for Parks, a city-wide parks advocacy group, to push for the designation.

Other local groups have also played a major role in securing the new status. The West Harlem Art Fund, Inc., a community-based cultural arts and preservation organization, and Community Board 9 have been working to ensure that Manhattan would be eligible for scenic byway designations.

Last December, the Art Fund in conjunction with the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, CB9, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the Riverside Park Fund and the Community League of the Heights completed the waterfront and economic development study “Take Me to the River.” The study was designed to improve access to the northern part of Riverside Park between 145th and 155th streets and from Amsterdam Avenue to the Hudson River.

While attempting to realize the study’s recommendations, Savona Bailey-McClain, founder and president of the Harlem Art Fund, learned that the City was ineligible for funding because Manhattan officials failed to pass a resolution for its participation in the New York State Scenic Byways Program. She alerted Rick Mueller at the Office of the Manhattan Borough President and Jordi Reyes-Montblanc, Chair of CB9, to this fact. Shortly thereafter, CB9 passed a resolution that would clear the island for Byway Program consideration. Mayor Bloomberg approved the resolution in February, and it was presented to the Board of Directors of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Conservancy on March 9th.

The advocacy groups are just halfway through the process of turning the Parkway into a scenic byway. In order to secure the benefits of a byway status designation, various community groups must put together a corridor management plan for their area. The plan has to address the long-term goals, maintenance, and management of the byway as well as suggested actions to reach and sustain those visions and goals. It also identifies the participants, both individuals and organizations, who have committed to the plan, and details their responsibilities.

“We are arranging to get together with our colleagues at CB7M and CB12M to devise a joint plan that will be beneficial to all three districts,” said Jordi Reyes-Montblanc, chair of CB9M.

Local community boards and organizations have already begun consideration about how the funds should be allocated. Among other ideas, CB7 is currently considering reigning in billboards and abating noise in parks adjacent to the parkway.

“The community has not expressed any specific concerns in particular as this process is only beginning, but the normal concerns about preservation and beautification have been expressed by various Board members,” Reyes-Montblanc said.

Community boards, elected officials, and city organizations with an interest in the Parkway corridor have been asked to send representatives to a meeting hosted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council to meet Nancy Alexander, director of the New York State Scenic Byways Program, to learn about how the corridor management plan for the Henry Hudson Parkway Scenic Byway will be developed. This meeting will be held on March 30th.

West Side Thruway Takes a Scenic Turn Into History