October 2001

A Message From John Doswell Chair,
Friends of Hudson River Park

As I write this letter, it has been over a month since our lives were changed by the unspeakable act of terrorism that impacted our city, not to mention our nation and the entire world. The first week was consumed by emergency response, rescue and hope for miracles. And, as that continued through the second week, a massive marshaling of forces began - for relief for victim's families as well as for the daunting task of removal of the aftermath of the massive destruction - always with remembrance and respect for the thousands who still lie in this temporary graveyard. It was also a week of candles. The recent weeks have been devoted to memorials, even as individuals and institutions displaced by the disaster struggled to resume their lives and industries. And all of us began to cope with a new existence marked by checkpoints, delays, and inconveniences, yet grateful, nonetheless, that we are here to endure them at all, given all those who will never be inconvenienced by anything ever again.

From the beginning our leaders urged us to carry on with our lives, in part to send a message that an act of terrorism, no matter how intense and awesome, was not going to bring this country to its knees. As best we can, we are trying - babies are being born, weddings taking place, we eat, drink, talk about football and education and other matters, and try our best, not to forget, but to seek understanding and solace in this altered world and city. More than ever, we turn to family, friends and even new-friends who were once strangers, as we mourn our losses, praise our heroes and resume our lives. As talk shifts to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, in whatever form, our attention returns to other things that are still important in our lives, in some cases even more important - health, well-being, safety, recreation, peace of mind. And one of those "other things" is parks - open space, green space, and blue space - our waterfront.

Parks contribute to our lives just those attributes that we need more than ever. They provide places to escape, reflect, collect ourselves, and take pleasure from our environment. We, the Friends of Hudson River Park, formed with the goal of providing support for our fledgling new park, which was finally beginning to mature after over 20 years of planning and debate. Last week, at a meeting of our directors, we collectively reaffirmed that, not only was our venture important and worthwhile, it is imperative. At the same time, we understand that the challenges that we faced before will be even greater. But we are resolved to do our very best, while being sensitive to other priorities, to ensure that the promise of Hudson River Park is fulfilled.

The Waterfront

The heroic and generous response by New Yorkers has been well documented. We are all deeply grateful for the bravery and unselfishness of our firefighters and other uniformed services, and grieve for their losses. And, of course, citizens responded in whatever ways they could, giving blood, donating supplies, and providing other forms of support. My first glimpse of this response occurred along the northern section of Hudson River Park, as tens of thousands of stranded commuters headed toward the river for a free ride to New Jersey on boats from Circle Line, World Yacht. NY Waterway, Spirit Cruises, Horizon and other boats from Pier 63 Maritime, Star and Queen of Hearts, even a 30' whale boat and many others. I joined with others trying to organize mile-long lines of calm and orderly people - and never saw anyone attempt to jump the line.

Later that afternoon, I became aware that our retired fireboat John J. Harvey, a museum vessel and restoration project, was not at her berth, and learned that she was at the scene, called back to duty by the fire department to pump water due to the lack of water pressure in fire hydrants. We were told that the volunteers on board needed food and beverages. At 6PM, we came by small boat to Harvey as she lay alongside the bulkhead just south of North Cove Marina, surrounded by two other NYC fireboats (John D. McKean and Firefighter) and numerous other vessels - tugs, Army Corps vessels, Police & Coast Guard and private boats. A once quiet waterfront esplanade and posh marina had been transformed into a busy port, despite a lack of cleats and bollards. Fireboats tied up to trees - tugs just nosed in and stayed put under power. Large hoses directed the water pumped from the river to relay pumper trucks which, in turn, supplied water to fire fighting units.

All Tuesday evening, boats of all description came in with supplies, crews and more fire fighting companies. A tug came in with a fire company from New Jersey. Another team of firefighters arrived from Sheepshead Bay via an offshore fishing boat. The large plaza just south of North Cove Marina, in spite of being covered with two inches of cement and plaster dust and debris, no doubt with a measure of asbestos, was starting to become a staging area for personnel and supplies as well as a rest area for tired rescue crews taking short breaks from very long and difficult shifts. With electricity out, there was no light that first night except for that supplied by search lights on the many tugs, fireboats and other vessels.

As search and rescue operations continued through the night, one of Harvey's volunteer crew, Andrew Furber, worked a 10-hour stint with an acetylene torch, cutting steel to reach trapped victims. The next day, a small army of volunteers descended on the site, helping to move cartons of supplies that continued to arrive by boats, and starting to clean up tons of debris in the surrounding areas. Realizing that we had plenty of water pressure on Harvey, a group of us rigged a 3" fire hose from the boat and began to hose the mess down the drain. By late Wednesday afternoon, we could start to see pavement again. Supplies continued to pour in, donated by countless individuals, companies and institutions. Clothing, toothpaste and brushes, garbage bags, food, boxes and boxes of drinking water. Most touching were the sandwiches - I remember countless sandwiches in plastic baggies, two pieces of white bread with a single thin slice of ham and cheese, no mayo, obviously prepared by volunteers - many with thank you notes. Had you been served such a sandwich in any deli in New York, you would have rejected it instantly. On this day, they were both welcome and delicious.

The Park

The Hudson River Park Trust both responded and was affected in many ways - from its Chair, James Ortenzio, who personally led the evacuation of the entire Trust staff from its offices in Battery Park City, scant blocks from the north tower - to all members of the organization, led by its president, Robert Balachandran, who spent days and then weeks following helping with relief efforts in many ways. Many of these efforts were aided by park tenants as well. A major volunteer and supply center was established at Chelsea Piers. The entire river was closed to all but essential traffic. The waters between Pier 25 and Battery Park City were dredged and turned into a barge facility, complete with giant cranes, for the removal of thousands upon thousands of tons of steel and concrete. The west side highway as far north as 42nd street, was completely or partially closed except for emergency, and later, relief support traffic - convoys of demolition trucks, office trailers and, of course, endless streams of official vehicles.

Only in the last two weeks have dinner cruise and recreational vessels, including kayaks, been back on the river - no where near the number that graced our beautiful river all summer long, but, at least they were back. And on Saturday, 29 September, a wonderful thing happened. A group of physically challenged kayakers, paired up with and escorted by a small flotilla of abled paddlers, took off from Pier 63 Maritime for a circumnavigation of Manhattan. While strong winds in the morning forced several to retire, five teams completed the hard but rewarding 33 mile circuit by 6 PM in perfect weather, capped by the most gorgeous sunset of the year. On the same day, the retired fireboat John J. Harvey celebrated its 70th birthday with a trip to the Statue of Liberty, followed by a water display in front of Marine Company No 2, John D. McKean, an active duty NYC fireboat located at the end of Gansevoort Peninsula in Hudson River Park. In spite of everything that has happened on and since 11 September, and fears of what still lies ahead - our park emerges very much alive, vital and resilient - and more important than ever. On 11 September, tens of thousands of people instinctively headed for the waterfront to escape the horror. Today, they are returning to the waterfront again to seek consolation and peace.

The Friends

Not only is our waterfront park alive and well, its purpose and mission intact and its path more daunting - the same can be said about the Friends of Hudson River park. Last week our new Executive Director, Brian Maxey, began full time. Our fundraiser, originally planned for 11 October, has been reset for 13 November. Our annual meeting is scheduled for 28 November. A date has been set for the 4th Annual Hudson River Park Day - Sunday, 9 June, 2002. All of the things that were on our plate a month ago are still there, some now with a new urgency, such as park financing.

Obviously a great deal of our attention in the months and years ahead will properly be directed toward new priorities: healing, rebuilding, security - and finding a way, not just to bring terrorists to justice, but to eliminate the very causes of terrorism. But I hope you believe, as I do, that we should not lose the very essence of our collective sanity and well being in the process. As New York City rises to the many new challenges that face us now, as the ordinary stress of life in a large city is exacerbated by heightened security and fear of the unknown, as our needs for serenity, understanding and peace become preeminent, we need our Hudson River Park more than ever.

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