Riverbank To Celebrate 15th Anniversary

ALBANY, NY (05/21/2008)(readMedia)-- Who: Carol Ash, Commissioner, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and local state and city legislators.

What: Celebrate Riverbank State Park’s 15th Birthday. Learn about $2.4 million in planned improvements for unique rooftop park.

When: 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 23rd, 2008.

Where: Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive, Manhattan.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash and other state and city leaders will discuss improvements taking place at Riverbank State Park. The revitalization plan calls for $2.4 million for roofs, heating, ventilation and air condition systems and much-needed replacement of the traffic circle’s concrete surface.

In addition, work will move forward on designs to replace aging basketball courts and running tracks, upgrading the skating rink, installing security cameras and bridge painting. The improvements are part of a $132 million plan to revitalize the state park system.

Riverbank is the only park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this 28-acre multi-level landscaped recreational facility rises 69 feet above the Hudson River atop a water pollution control plant. Housed in five major buildings are an Olympic-size pool, a covered skating rink for roller skating in the summer and ice-skating in the winter, an 800-seat cultural theater, a 2,500-seat athletic complex with fitness room, and a 150-seat restaurant.

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