However, the international body won’t decide until fall whether to proceed.

Cuomo OKs plans for U.N. to build

By Theresa Agovino
July 15, 2011

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Friday that allows the United Nations to construct another building on what is now a park. The transaction is part of large, complicated plan to fill a 21-block gap in the East Side waterfront promenade that runs between East 38th and East 60th streets.

The money received from the sale of the park land, combined with funds the city would garner from selling two office buildings, would be used to the extend the promenade.

After receiving an official request from the City Council, the state Legislature last month passed a law that lets city and state officials sign a “memorandum of understanding” by Oct. 10 and allow for the future demolition of Robert Moses Playground so the United Nations could build a tower on the site’s 29,000-square-foot blacktop. The park is on First Avenue, across East 42nd Street from the international body.

The legislation was necessary because it takes state approval to eliminate a park, yet law makers won’t be in session during the fall when the U.N. is expected to decide whether to move forward with the plan. The memorandum would allow local state representatives to require conditions be met before a deal could proceed. The plan would also be subject to the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.

Day Trip to Robert Moses State Park from New York City

>> If you think that New York State Park lifeguards have an easy life in the sun, consider their responsibilities and how much physical strength they need to drag someone out of the Atlantic Ocean’s pounding surf, especially after a water-churning storm passes through.

Lifeguards who work on east coast shorelines are very familiar with wave action and because of this, have an excellent reputation for keeping swimmers safe. So far this year, the only lives lost in New York swimming accidents have been in unguarded areas.

For those of you who crave the Atlantic Ocean’s raw power under the protection of capable guards, but not especially souvenir shops, consider a day trip to the Robert Moses State Park. With fewer trappings of civilization, its beach seems intimate and, perhaps, more natural. Best, if you are in a hurry to get wet, the distance between parking (or the bus stop) and the waves is short.

Robert Moses State Park

The picture above was taken of the Robert Moses State Park beach around 5 PM on an August weekday. The surf was particularly rough due to several previous weeks of storms. Although the wave action wasn’t as strong as it can get during the hurricane season, with waves often rising to over 18 feet, it was strong at eight to ten feet high, nonetheless. During non-stormy periods, however, the ocean can be glass calm.

Robert Moses Playground

Accessibililty Level Definitions
Level 1: Playgrounds for All Children
Level 2: Accessible Playgrounds with Ramped Play Equipment and Universally Accessible Swings
Level 3: Accessible Playgrounds with Universally Accessible Swings
Level 4: Accessible Playgrounds with Transfer Platforms and Ground Level Play Features

JennSwing® is a full-body positioning support swing.

1 Ave., E. 41 St. To E. 42 St.

Manhattan

Acres: 1.09

“Parks are the outward visible symbol of democracy.”
–Robert Moses, 1956

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

In five decades of public service, Robert Moses (1888-1981) had an extraordinary impact on the physical environment of New York. He played a primary role in the development of its parks, transportation, and housing. Moses was born on December 18, 1888 in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale in 1909, received a jurisprudence degree from Oxford University in 1911, and a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University in 1914.

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