This is Battery Park City Authority property, not Hudson River Park. Though I will note that HRPT is a state/city authority built on property owned by both: from 34th Street south is the state. That's why there are two monuments there as well -- one to the AIDS memorial, which was built into the landscape quite nicely, and the LGBT Memorial, which was sited after the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. — Tribeca Citizen on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Right-o — Tribeca Citizen on Where in Tribeca?

The McKean was actually welcomed by the FDNY 343 which is the new state of the art fireboat that replaced the McKean when it was taken out of service. — Tracy Conte on Fireboat McKean arrives at Pier 25 for a summer vacation

One red maple tree for each woman Cuomo is accused of sexually harassing. #nytouch — James on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

It’s in BPC because the state controls the BPCA and it’s the only available space in the city for the governor to flex and dump this tribute. Don’t get me wrong- essential workers deserve recognition- but not in the middle of this beautiful green space! This is absurd- I’ve signed the petition and encouraged all my friends and neighbors in BPC (where I have lived for 20 years). — Kathy on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

71 N.Moore Street next to Smith and Mills Bar/restaurant, regards, Sonia S. — SONIA STOCK on Where in Tribeca?

You can go see where it will be, they started getting ready for construction the same day Cuomo announced it. I can’t believe there was no public meeting about this, zero transparency. Taking down this beautiful old trees is a tragedy. — A2 on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

WHAT TO DO: The most effective way to demand that any monument is more thoughtfully located is to take direct action in local government forums. Please show up to the next Community Board Meeting prepared to make your voice heard. COMMUNITY BOARD 1-MANHATTAN https://www1.nyc.gov/site/manhattancb1/index.page DATE: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 TIME: 6:00 PM PLACE: TBD Agenda will be posted one week prior to meeting date. 1 Centre Street, Room 2202 - North New York, NY 10007 Tel: (212) 669-7970 Email: Man01@cb.nyc.gov — Lee Pham on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

I think that this is a terrible idea. This is an area used for children to run freely. There are many early learning activities that use most of the area especially in the warm weather. Adults of all ages gather in this area to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in their lives. Just the noise and dirt will make this highly used park an unpleasant place to go to have a peaceful place to relax. — A. Moore on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Peaceful protest at the site at 2pm today (6/26). Trees are scheduled to be cut down on Monday. — Cara on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Totally agree- why not near a hospital in Queens or Brooklyn or the Bronx that was hard hit by the pandemic, and where workers can see it and feel appreciated instead of here in an area that had some of the lower rates of infection, and as you pointed out, is beyond the reach of most of those 19 categories of essential workers... And I imagine Hudson River Park will continue to be a dumping ground for memorials that really belong in other, more appropriate communities. — Robert Ripps on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Hard to tell exactly where it’s located, but removing beloved, highly utilized green space for concrete and flagpoles is absolutely absurd. Further, it makes no sense to have a monument in BPC, which wasn’t particularly at the forefront of the crisis. Terrible idea and abuse of power. Residents need to push back vocally. Destroying parks is not the way to honor essential workers and lost loved ones. — Person on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Dismayed at the thought of more plantlife being removed for more paving, cement etc. Already miss the lovely flower bed where the Mother Cabrini statue now stands. Why not put these monuments where there already is paving? We all desperately need greenery and flowers, colors, scents, bees, open spaces. Please DO NOT DESTROY WHAT WE STILL HAVE! — Silvia Rennie on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Pam, doesn’t the Hudson River Parkway group have any authority over the park? Thanks for the info and the petition. I signed. — A2 on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

I signed. This is an unwelcome intrusion. We don’t need or want to reduce green space in battery park. — Ari hammer on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Thank you for writing! Keep it up! — Britni Erez on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Rally on Saturday (6/26) @ 2pm in Rockefeller Park. Come out to support the moving of the Essential Workers Monument. — Philip Yang on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

This is a nice idea. But the logic behind the choice for the location really escapes me and my family. Why take away the small sliver of green field that is used by neighborhood children and also families, who travel to the area to picnic on the north meadow. The area proposed is where the most shade is offered and is where many people on weekends locate their picnics for kid birthday parties or small wedding showers. I believe it is used by kids to play all sorts of games on other days. It seems like this was conceived of and designed by people who do not use this part of the city or know this neighborhood. I fear that it is going to be a sad location to celebrate the first responders. There is often pot smoke wafting in that area and those benches and eternal flame zone will be end up becoming a prime area for dogs to mark with urine and poop. How that is supposed to be a gesture to commemorate the first responders I have no idea. A better location would be down in Battery Park near the Staten Island ferry terminal. Thousands of people pass through there. Many first responders probably. The area is partly covered in asphalt and would benefit from the improvements. Less neighborhood dogs being walked. Most importantly, it would not take away green space from the children who attend the three schools in this neighborhood. — Justin on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Signed too. — j. on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Signed because...yuck! — Heide Fasnacht on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

The children having to wear masks suddenly who has coped so well throughout the pandemic deserves to have the little piece of nature here. How can one be so out of touch with the people that he is suppose to represent? Perhaps living in Albany makes it easy for one to forget the scarcity of green open space in the city. For the children? How can you do this? — H on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

This is truly a terrible idea for all the reasons mentioned above. Additionally this appears to be another self centered Cuomo projects that is more about the PR value for Cuomo than about actually honoring the Essential workers. (My wife is an Essential Worker and I love the idea of honoring their work but not like this). The only reason Battery Park City was chosen is because it is the only NYC area Cuomo has control over. This is a political pissing contest. Pathetic. — Mike H on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Ugh. Important tribute but an absolutely awful location. Agree on all your questions and points. — j. on State breaks ground on huge monument for Rockefeller Park lawn

Just so you know, it was the FDNY Marine 1 343 that greeted the John D McKean, not the Harvey. The Harvey was docked at the flying pan. I took photos from Hoboken when the 343 came down the river to salute the McKean. — David Rocco on Fireboat McKean arrives at Pier 25 for a summer vacation

I have very fond memories of many late nights spent there during my U.S. Marshals career in the 1980's. This Southern man learned a lot and met some truly interesting individuals, that's for sure! — Michael Bounds on After 147 years at the Seaport, The Paris Café is closing for good