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TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – Proponents of turning the existing Tappan Zee Bridge into a park say their idea should be included in studies of the new bridge, so the feasibility of such a project can be decided.
“We are asking the state to include the preservation of the bridge into their environmental impact studies,” White Plains Common Council Member Milagros Lecuona said. “So that we know exactly where we are with the infrastructure and if this idea can be possible.”
Several residents and public officials, including Lecuona, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and State Assemblyperson Tom Abinanti first proposed the bridge park idea in October. The idea stems from the High Line park in New York City and the Walkway Over the Hudson Park in Poughkeepsie.
Proponents say the park could make the Tappan Zee Bridge a destination for tourism and bring in much-needed economic growth. They also say turning the old bridge into a park will save millions and protect the Hudson River environmentally.
Feiner said he thinks spending so much money on maintenance and then demolishing the bridge is a big waste of money. “Wouldn't it be better if we save it so people could enjoy it?” he asked.
Supporters have organized into a group to figure out how to make the park a reality. In addition to starting a website, officials have sent letters to other politicians to try to get the park idea included in the bridge study. Abinanti said the group just wants to make sure that transportation officials examine every possibility.
“Let's take a look at the facts,” Abinanti said.
Lecuona acknowledged several challenges the group would have to overcome to get the park in place, such as funding, parking, traffic and the visual impact of having three bridges standing 300 feet apart. She said many of these issues would be considered if the park idea was included in the bridge study.
“What we're saying is 'go ahead and keep doing what you're doing, but at the same time, look at all of these other things,” Abinanti said, referring to the park and a mass-transit system. “There's nothing that says you can't start working on this now so that you can make it a reality shortly after opening the bridge.”
Comments (5)
It seems people like Paul and housemusic3 don't live in a world of reality. The truth makes several good points. When and if the old bridge is taken down most of that steel could be sold as scrap. That would do two things. It would reduce the cost of the DE-constructing the bridge and remove a unsafe structure. They seem to not realize that this feel good project will cost the taxpayers millions to maintain. For WHAT? We have plenty of walkways and open spaces NOW! We can't afford to have any more.
They all seem to forget about the taxpayers , don't they? It must be nice to have all the money you need and then go out and spend other peoples money.
Only a certified loon like Paul Feiner would get behind this ridiculous idea. The State cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of the roads and bridges now so Feiner and Abinati want the taxpayer to afford this. With leaders like that in Greenburgh the residents deserve one of the highest tax rates in the country. You reap what you sow.
Who is going to pay for all the maintenance on this old bridge? When it turns all rusty and whole start appearing in the road, how much money will we spend on it? And if you think there are a lot of jumpers now, just wait until people can easily walk up and jump.
There is already plenty of bridges around, if somebody wants to jump, they are gonna jump, or shall we close down the GWB and Brooklyn bridges (which both have pedestrian crosswalks) just so people cant jump from there? there is a similar park across the Hudson in Poughkipsee and it's a great park that many people use from all over the area. I take my wife and son there at least twice a year, the cost of maintaining will be nothing compared to the 50 million $ price tag it will take to tear down
housemusic 3 I have walked the bridge across the Hudson in Poughkeepsie and it is beautiful. To compare that to the Tappan Zee Bridge is like comparing a row boat to an ocean liner. The rip down cost will be nothing compared to the annual maintenance of a 50 plus year old steel bridge.Stick to the music and leave the construction work to the men.