This year, during the annual reading of the victim names, I watched kids reading the names of parents lost that day. It struck me how close my kids came to being up on that podium reading my name. Had I been just a couple hundred yards closer, I wouldn’t be writing this post.
Today we watch the Freedom Tower slowly rise from the ground, at first referred to as “The Pile” and then “The Pit”. On the western side (which is where WTC 1 & 2 stood, The Pit finally reached street level in the past 2 months. Despite being a huge construction site, It is now called “Memorial Plaza”.
The Eastern side remains a 10 acre pit, still being cleared of 9/11 debris and years behind schedule.
Many of you know me as a recreational soccer coach with DUSC (Downtown United Soccer Club). However, we are in danger of losing our fields, the one’s we fought so hard to get. The Hudson River Trust and the City are evaluating new proposals that would result in the loss of this valuable community resource.
We need your support to save Pier 40!
We need the park and field space in lower Manhattan. It is vital for recreational sports including Soccer, Baseball and countless other uses. There is no equivalent fields in the city.
Video from this past Sunday’s community gathering at Pier 40.
Thanks to those who were able to attend the Sunday rally in support of the community
fields at Pier 40. This coming Thursday, after almost 18 months of deliberation,
the Board of the Hudson River Park Trust will finally pick a future for the Pier
– either the corporate developer Related and its plan for a 600 million dollar
tourist mecca, or a community-backed vision of fields, schools, parks, and arts
called the Partnership for Pier 40. This historic vote of the Trust will be
local and public.
Hudson River Park Trust Directors Meeting 4:00 p.m. Thursday January 31, 2008
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Main Floor (Take the 1 to South
Ferry or R/W to Whitehall, or 4/5 to Bowling Green)
Attendance at this meeting by parents, children, and/or their caregivers will
send a powerful message of concern over the future of our open space and parklands
downtown.
