Broadway Malls

The Daily Plant : Monday, August 5, 2013

Restoring An 8-Block Stretch Of The Broadway Malls

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney

On July 25, NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White joined State Assembly Member Herman D. Farrell, Jr., City Council Member Robert Jackson, Broadway Mall Association Chair Robert Herrmann, Manhattan Community Board 9 Vice Chair Arnold Boatner, Community Liaison for the Manhattan Borough President Nina Saxon, and members of the community to cut the ribbon on an eight-block stretch of the Broadway Malls that were restored from West 145th Street through West 153rd Street.

“There’s always magic in the air on Broadway, and we are pleased to have restored an eight-block stretch along the Broadway Malls from West 145th to West 153rd Streets for the public to enjoy,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. “Special thanks to Borough President Stringer and Mayor Bloomberg for funding this beautiful and sustainable design, and to our partners in the community at the Broadway Mall Association for helping ensuring that the Malls remain in pristine condition throughout the year.”

“I am proud to have supported and helped fund the restoration projects for eight blocks of Broadway Malls in Harlem,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. “Today’s ribbon-cutting marks an important transformation, not only of our urban streetscape but of the residential neighborhoods in one of New York City’s most historic districts. The eight malls we have restored on Upper Broadway with plants, trees and shrubs—each of them distinctive in its own way—will enhance the life of our City and offer a pleasing urban oasis. They are a credit to the dedication of the Broadway Mall Association, residents and local merchants, whose hard work made these improvements possible.”

“The stretch of malls on Broadway between 145th Street and 153rd Street were well deserving of a restoration and beautification,” said Robert Herrmann, Chairman of the Broadway Mall Association. “We are very grateful to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer for the funding to make this work happen and to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation for their partnership on this project. The Broadway Mall Association helps maintain almost five miles of parkland along the Upper West Side, and it is very satisfying to celebrate the opening of these eight Broadway malls.”

Eight malls were beautified with new trees, shrubs and plants, with each mall having a distinctive look. Work included new game tables, improved ADA access and reconstruction of decorative pavements, walls and fences. Storm water runoff will be reduced with the enhanced plantings.

The project was completed six months ahead of schedule and it was funded with capital allocations of $605,000 from Borough President Stringer and $91,000 from Mayor Bloomberg.