In April 2016 BPCA began an assessment of Wagner Park, located on Battery Park City’s southern end, to improve storm resiliency and environmental sustainability for the neighborhood at large (substantial floodwaters flowed into Battery Park City through the hinge formed by Wagner Park and Pier A Plaza during Hurricane Sandy).

 Over the past year, through numerous conversations with a wide range of neighborhood stakeholders, elected officials, and in close consultation with State and City partners, BPCA has worked to develop a plan to redesign Wagner Park that uses the property to provide greater resiliency protection, increases green space and gardens, adds a new, publicly-accessible pavilion, and provides sweeping views of lower New York harbor.

 The project’s next phase is detailed engineering and design, entailing development of a design RFP to be released in approximately the next three months. Additional rounds of public input will follow once a firm is selected as a result of that RFP.

Wagner Park redesign concepts can be found here.

Catherine McVay Hughes, Member, Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Task Force and Immediate-Past Chairperson, Manhattan Community Board 1

“From my two decades serving our community, I know that the most pressing issue of our time is protecting the place we live, work and play from extreme weather events and sea level rise. Battery Park City is a leader in turning these urgent plans into reality. Making Wagner Park more storm-resilient is absolutely necessary for the future, and represents an unmissable opportunity to improve integration with the wider Downtown community at the same time. The Authority’s forward-looking and realistic stance is an example that all levels of government should follow.”

Warrie Price, President & Founder, The Battery

“Working together is the only way we truly make Lower Manhattan’s landscapes sustainable and resilient . The Battery is focused on ecology (increased green areas), biodiversity (vast gardens), and storm water management. We are working with BPCA to make our common boarders a seamless transition for all our users. The new design concept for Wagner Park is a very positive step in making the waterfront more green, more responsive to tidal surge, and proactive to the environmental needs of the future . It offers an expanded lawn space, a wetland stepping down to the water’s edge and better connection to Pier A and to The Battery. I welcome this plan and believe all of Downtown will be served by its implementation.”

Michael Glickman, President & CEO, Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

“I thank the BPCA for including us in these conversations about how we can be a better neighbor and a more impactful and meaningful destination. As we look to expand our ability to deliver services to and programming for the local community, one of the things that most excites us is how we can make better use of outdoor space – especially the space adjacent to the museum – to be more distinct and direct about better engaging with our neighbors. I really appreciate the efforts being made in Wagner Park for the benefit of the entire area.”

Phil Suarez, Owner, Gigino at Wagner Park

“We’ve been in Wagner Park for a wonderful 18 years and this plan is perfect for us. We have watched Wagner Park grow over these years and know this will be yet another step in that growth – a growth we want to remain part of. Right now we have a stunningly small kitchen, yet on weekends we serve lunch and dinner to well over 300 people a day. The size of the restaurant itself is about 1,800 square feet, so something like this expansion would be of great benefit. We love being part of this community and want to provide it with a world class trattoria. With the planned enhanced facility we will be able to keep our present affordable menu while broadening it to include takeaway with fun, kid-friendly items like pizza, paninis, and gelato – and possibly delivery as well. And so we declare our endorsement of this project to be one-thousand percent!”

Paul Lamas, Partner, Pier A Harbor House

“We think the whole plan is fantastic and we’re very excited about it. We’re particularly excited about the connection between the end of Wagner Park and Pier A. Every week I meet people that live in Battery Park City and it hard to believe but they still don’t know Pier A is there; and if they know Pier A, they don’t know it’s open. We love the tourists and corporate events, of course, but we really judge our success by how we help the local community and how the local community accepts us. And the connectivity between the park and the pier we think will really go a long way to helping us do that.”

Anthony Malone, Director of Operations, Pier A Harbor House

“In addition to the connectivity of Pier A to Wagner Park, the beautification of that side of the park is something we’re also very excited about, it’s a lovely aspect for us, and people out here, to look out onto a new wetland and a new park to enjoy.”

Kate Ascher, Partner, BuroHappold Engineering | Cities

“As lower Manhattan continues burnishing a model of residential, educational, and cultural excellence, resiliency plays a role that’s hard to overstate. Wagner Park’s redesign helps advance that promise for this and the next generation of downtown dwellers, and I commend BPCA for its forward thinking on how we can make one of downtown’s great public spaces more integrated and navigable for all.”

Reggie Thomas, Lower Manhattan Resident

“As someone who’s served in and close to local government for my entire career, I know the importance of smart planning and taking the initiative on matters of pressing public concern, especially when it comes to making our community more resilient and sustainable. I applaud the BPCA’s efforts to harden a vulnerable point of lower Manhattan and look forward to continued engagement on this initiative.”

Dr. Mike Gordon, Battery Park City Resident

“I’ve spent a lot of time studying Hurricane Sandy and its effects, and I know a smart approach to resiliency when I see one. While this is clearly still a plan in development, I think the fundamental concept is strong, and something that needs to be pursued as soon as possible.”

About BPCA: Established in 1968, The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority is a New York State Public Benefit Corporation charged with developing and maintaining a well-balanced community on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. Battery Park City’s 92-acre site has achieved worldwide acclaim as a model for community renewal in planning, creating, and maintaining a balance of commercial, residential, retail and park space.  By pioneering development through ground leases and bonding authority with public/private partnerships between the BPCA and private developers, this planned community has become a blueprint for successful urban development.

For more info visit: bpca.ny.gov.