NYC Planning Expansion Of High Line Park

After claiming that the City and park officials lacked the money to maintain the newly opened High Line, the NY Daily News is reporting that the City is set to expand the park by purchasing additional land in anticipation of expanding the park to 1.5 miles. The park currently stretches from Gansevoort St. to W. 20th St. in Chelsea on the former railbed suspended above the city streets.

Where is the money going to come from to care for the maintenance of the newly created park, let alone any expansion? That seems to be a question that is wholly avoided throughout the Daily News article, and one that taxpayers ought to be asking of City officials. I've previously reported that the entity responsible for building the park has sought to impose a tax on local businesses to fund the park's operations, although such calls were rebuffed.

The Friends of the High Line have had trouble making up their portion of the costs of operation which is $2.5 to $3.5 million annually (the City kicks in $1 million annually). Since this expansion would result in additional operating costs, perhaps someone should be asking where the money will come from to operate the expanded areas, let alone the existing areas.