- City:
- New York, New York City, NY
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Marinas and Aquatic Parks
- New Deal Agencies:
- Public Works Funding, Work Relief Programs, Public Works Administration (PWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civil Works Administration (CWA)
- Started:
- 1934
- Completed:
- 1940
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
Located along the Henry Hudson Parkway, the 79th Street Boat Basin is a marina, restaurant and still popular Manhattan destination. It was built in the 1930s with extensive New Deal support:
“In a way, we owe the existence of the entire Riverside – Fort Washington Park complex to the 79th Street Boat Basin. In 1934, Robert Moses wanted to build a whole new park from 72nd Street all the way to the top of Manhattan but he needed to find the money. He already had funding for the Henry Hudson Parkway. Since the Parkway was to have an exit and entry at 79th Street, access ramps and an overpass or underpass were needed. He happened to remember that the Public Works Administration (PWA) had a fund set aside for such things filed under “Grade Crossing Eliminations”, which would pay for the material. Then, once he had the material he could approach the Civil Works Administration (CWA) whose purpose was to put unemployed people to work, but only if a very high percentage (like 80 or 90) was used for wages and not materials. Since Moses already had money for the materials, the CWA gave him enough money for “relief labor” to build the entire park.[1] When the Works Progess Administration (WPA) took over from the PWA and CWA in 1935, they went ahead with an underpass that was also a traffic circle, a marina, a parking garage, and a rotunda that included a restaurant.” (kermitproject.org)
Source notes
https://kermitproject.org/newdeal/riversidepark/boatbasin.html Millett, John D. The Works Progress Administration in New York City, New York (Arno Press). 1978: 102. Caro, Robert A., The Power Broker - Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, Vintage Books (1974). NYC Parks Dept press release of March 2, 1940, announcing the opening of the 79th Street Boat Basin.Site originally submitted by Frank da Cruz on July 13, 2014.
At this Location:
- Henry Hudson Parkway - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Grant's Tomb Improvements - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Grant's Tomb Sculptures - New York NY
- Riverside Park Reconstruction - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Joan of Arc Statue Restoration - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Firemen's Memorial Restoration - New York NY
- Riverside Park: 106th St. Overlook Cafe - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Playgrounds - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Athletic Fields - New York NY
- Riverside Park: Landscaping - New York NY
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