The Hudson River Park Friends Business Council (BC) assembles a group of senior leaders committed to west side development as related to Hudson River Park and beyond. Together, we share best practices, networking opportunities and social engagements, striving to build an engaged and dynamic business community.
Thank you to all of you, our BC representatives, who connect large corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, employees and other local partners to the Park’s celebrated and architecturally recognized green spaces and treasured riverfront oasis.
In this issue, learn about what’s blooming in Hudson River Park, what our Business Council members are working on, opportunities to get involved and more.
Lead.
February Meeting Recap: Brookfield Place Tour & Parm
BC members gathered at the Brookfield Place Winter Garden for a tour that took us to soaring heights and deep below ground. Alex Liscio, Senior Vice President, Asset Management at Brookfield Properties, led the group to the roof of Brookfield Place, where we took in expansive views of the Lower Hudson and downtown Manhattan.
Then, we had an exclusive look at the one-of-a-kind cooling system, sixty feet below street level. This marvel of infrastructure utilizes Hudson River water to efficiently cool the eight-million-square-foot, four-building Brookfield complex, which includes the 44,000-square-foot Winter Garden atrium. Following this underground tour, BC members convened at Parm for light bites, cocktails and discussion.
Meatpacking BID Brings Public Art to W 14 St. and 9 Ave
BC Member Tiffany Griffin shared the launch of Chasing Rainbows, a two-part public art installation by Charlotte Colbert across the Meatpacking District and Flatiron/NoMad. This first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Meatpacking and Flatiron NoMad Partnership BIDs tells a shared story across neighborhoods.
Tiffany writes, “In Meatpacking, ‘Where Angels Live’ takes the form of a 30-foot reflective steel tree, adorned with votive-like charms inspired by relics and talismans — objects believed to hold meaning through collective belief. In Flatiron, ‘Dreamland Sirens’ rises as a watchful eye.”
Read more about the installation.
Play.
Save the Date: Hudson River Park’s Blues BBQ Festival
Mark your calendars for Hudson River Park’s Annual Blues BBQ Festival on Saturday, August 15. As a Business Council representative, you are welcome to join us in the HRPK Friends VIP section, where you may enjoy drinks alongside delicious barbecue and excellent music.
Community Partner Highlight
Encourage your colleagues to utilize their Friends with Benefits membership this year. Every Corporate Member volunteer receives a Seedling-level digital membership card, entitling you and your team to deals and discounts at our Community Partners.
Learn.
Update on the Hudson Tunnel Project
Last September, we gathered via Zoom to hear a presentation from the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) regarding the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP). In February 2026, GDC was forced to pause construction for two weeks due to the suspension of federal grants and loans by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Because of a favorable order in a lawsuit filed by New Jersey and New York, over $254 million in reimbursement funds have since been released to GDC, who have now received all the federal funding due to the project.
Construction has resumed and all of the jobs impacted by the suspension have been restored. GDC is moving forward full steam ahead to deliver the Hudson Tunnel Project. The first two tunnel boring machines have arrived in New Jersey and are being assembled now.
As court cases remain ongoing, GDC is calling upon allies and key stakeholders to continue advocating for this urgent infrastructure project. Read an overview of the events dating back to last fall through the current state of affairs.
HRPK in the News
- Hudson River Park Trust was awarded $150K+ for oyster reef restoration as part of a funding commitment from the Champlain Hudson Environmental Trust (CHET), which has committed $865,000 to six projects aimed at restoring and enhancing critical habitats for fish and wildlife in Lake Champlain and the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. This funding supports testing methods for direct setting of oyster larvae onto existing Park habitat structures, scheduled for Summer 2027, followed by monitoring and evaluation over the course of 2027 and 2028. Read more.
- Sail 4th 250 will bring the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world into New York Harbor to salute the Statue of Liberty on July 4, passing through Hudson River Park’s 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary. HRPK will be a major gathering point for viewers of this nautical spectacle. Learn more about the event.
- NYC DOT has begun the public review process for a $3 million, 24-month study to develop an upgrade to the entire 14th Street corridor. Design features will include new landscaping, upgraded pedestrian park, and plaza space, greenery, and safety enhancements that will all complement existing busway operations. As part of the proposal, NYC DOT will also deliver design upgrades to neighboring streets and public spaces that provide connections along 14th Street from Avenue B to Union Square Park, onto Irving Place, Broadway and University Place, over to the Meatpacking District, and into Hudson River Park. Read more.
Support.
Especially in the era of workplace AI, corporate volunteerism is more powerful than ever. California Management Review of UC Berkeley’s Haas Business School says that skill-developing volunteering can help workers develop inherently-human skills, including emotions & relationships, ethics & cultural sensitivity and flexibility and innovation.
Reach out to [email protected] to schedule your company’s volunteer project. Business Council membership includes one volunteer project for up to 40 people, or two projects for 20 people each.
We thank you for your support, innovative ideas and active participation on the Business Council. Please contact Amy at [email protected] with input regarding future meetings, programming and events.