|
NHEMA & NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) are in the process of creating a pedestrian plaza under the Metro North viaduct at Park Avenue & 125th Street. We appreciated everyone that participated in the Public Workshop on Wednesday April 1, and came to hear the plans for this project.
The workshop started with the introduction of the DOT Plaza Program, showing examples of previous Plaza projects, and the intended site. NHEMA went through a lengthy application process & gathered support from stakeholders in the community to get approved for this Plaza.
The DOT presented the plans for the Plaza:
- New planters with light sensitive plants.
- Mural will be painted on the comfort station by local artist in collaboration with school children.
- New lights will be on 24 hours a day creating a brighter & welcoming space.
- Folded tables & chairs will be supplied by DOT & NHEMA will be responsible for storing them at dusk.
- “No Standing/Sleeping” signs will be posted on Plaza enabling the NYPD to move the transient and homeless population.
NHEMA will be responsible for providing additional sanitation services (sweeping, removing trash bags &snow in the winter)& organizing programming that will activate the space.The Plaza will be open to all the public; anyone can apply to hold an event in the plaza.
The Plaza is part of a bigger Capital project that's launched by NY Economic Development Corporation (EDC); it aims to enlighten the space under the viaduct since its an important transit hub.The next steps will be to present consensus plaza plan to Manhattan Community Board 11 this month & potentially introduce artwork and plaza amenities in May.
After the presentation, the challenges, difficulties & concerns for the project were discussed in an informative Q&A session. We appreciate the feedback we received from everyone that attended; local merchants,neighborhood residents, NYPD, religious leaders & other non-profit in East Harlem.
|
