Duane Park, named for NYC’s first mayor James Duane, is the first property purchased and deeded to NYC for use as a public park. So, while it’s the 2nd oldest park in NYC, it’s the first piece of property held by NYC’s Parks Department. In partnership with the Parks Dept, FDP has maintained Duane Park for 30 years and counting!
In the spring of 2021, the Friends of Duane Park (FDP) launched a project to restore the park to its original historic footprint. With input and advice from our project partners at the Parks Dept and DOT, we are making steady progress. On this page, we track that progress with the most recent updates at the top.
As of Oct 2024: FDP meets with Manhattan Commissioners for Parks (new) and DOT to review the project and determine next steps. Councilmember Marte joined the call and indicated his support for the project. Next step: FDP and DOT must review impact of design on pedestrian mobility and then circle back to Parks and CM Marte.
As of Sept 2024: FDP creates a focus group to help review design elements and increase project support.
As of May 2024: FDP commissions a survey of the subterranean area around Duane Park. The survey revealed infrastructure (natural gas and Cable TV lines) adding a degree of uncertainty to the final price tag for the project. FDP, Langan (surveryers) and Signe Neilsen (architect) are projecting hard cost of $1.4 million.
As of Nov 2023: FDP surveys local stakeholders to weigh in on a key design element, the restoration of the southern sidewalk. The results were clear: no southern sidewalk is needed; please turn that asphalt into greenery. FDP updated its design to reflect the stakeholder input and the project became the Restoration + Resiliency Project. [click here for poll results]. FDP updates CB1 on the change and the Oct 2021 resolution is updated to remove the southern sidewalk in favor of the more resilient design.
As of Sept 2023: FDP launches poll on Restoration Project. Public engagement takes place from Sept 10 to end of October.
As of May 2023: Parks Dept provides preliminary Capital Needs Assessment with a larger project scope (and a price tag of $1.7million). For that price and in light of our warming planet, FDP begins to ask neighbors if replacing asphalt with sidewalk is the best use of limited public dollars.
As of April 2023: FDP meets with Manhattan Commissioners from Parks (new) and DOT for a site visit. Conceptually all are in favor. Next step is to get a handle on costs.
As of Oct 2021: FDP with landscape architect, Signe Nielson, presents small scale project to restore Duane Park to its historic footprint to CB1. Manhattan Commissioners from Parks and DOT are conceptually on board with the project and the community board issues a formal resolution of support.
While we discuss the implications with the City, we are inviting our neighbors to join a new focus group to review the plans as they develop.
Friends of Duane Park is suggesting that the city agencies restore the 26% of parkland shaved off of the park in the 1940’s and 50’s to make way for the trucks then operating on the street. Returning this historic space to the park will permit FDP to enlarge the planted area on the park’s southern perimeter and replace the trees and plantings that once stood at the western apex. Restoring Duane Park is beneficial for the neighborhood, climate change, and preserves this tiny and mighty piece of New York history.
Luckily, we have an ace landscape architect on the block! Signe Nielsen created drawings of what our restoration project would look like. A few of the restoration guiding principles are: to restore Duane Park’s historic footprint, reduce the heat-island effect, and retain the quiet and restful character of our neighborhood, while improving the air quality.
Click here to download the FDP restoration presentation PDF.
Duane Park neighbors enthusiastically support the project so far and we continue to seek input from the community.
Community Board 1 passed a resolution in favor of the project. NYC Parks Department and DOT (Department of Transportation) conceptually support the project, but we have more work to do before we can get the green light from these agencies.
Take our poll and stay informed by signing up for the Restoration Project Newsletter. You can attend Community Board 1 meetings, follow us on social, and watch this page to find out more as it happens.
