Why Not?

 

Our new entrance to the park, 
IF YOU CAN GET THERE

I love how our DPW treats Promenade Park in the winter as if it were just an annoyance. They leave a bulwark of snow along the curb so that anyone walking across Front Street to reach the pretty new entrance to the park has to walk on and over a mound of snow and/or ice, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO.  DPW didn't even bother clearing one or two small areas so that pedestrians don't have to try to step over snow to safely and easily visit the park.  Not even where the crosswalk meets the curb. 

The park, of course, was recently updated to include ramps for disabled visitors, especially those in wheelchairs.  How the hell are those people supposed to even use the ramps if they can't reach the entrance to the park?  It's as if Rob Perry didn't get the memo, or he just didn't bother reading it.  The memo about how the DOJ wants Hudson to get its act together and start respecting disabled people by creating walkable sidewalks and other walking surfaces used by everyone.

Enjoy the view, if you are able
 to reach the fence

Then there's the top area of the park where every park patron is headed to admire and enjoy the view --  even the disabled, and yes, people come even in the winter and even when there is snow on the ground.  Lots of folks of all stripes.  The park is one of Hudson's star attractions, the entrance of which recently got a major facelift.  As usual, though, this morning, DPW cleared the paths to the top of the park but AT THE TOP they didn't bother to clear even a narrow path to the fence.  Of course, all that wet snow could turn to ice, as is common, and this is exactly what has regularly occurred in years past after every snowfall.  None of the main surface of the park is ever cleared of snow and it often eventually turns to ice, at which point it is nearly impossible to remove.  Visitors are left to navigate the most challenging type of ice -- uneven and full of footprints. So welcoming for the park guests!  So considerate, especially for our disabled guests!  How's the view while you are on your wet knees or back?  How's the view from the hospital?

The only way to reach the view you have come for is to walk on uneven ice and/or snow for at least 50 feet and back.  To have a look at the stunning views of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River like no one else has around here.  A historic park that our DPW considers to be a time-consuming annoyance where no disabled or elderly patrons visit.   Snow and ice covering the entirety of the park's main surface?  Whatever!  Not our problem!  We don't have time! Go somewhere else if you don't like it.

If you feel that this is completely unacceptable in the year 2023 in America's "most charming city," give the DPW a call.  While there is no direct phone number on the PDW webpage for Robert Perry, Jr., Superintendent of the Hudson DPW, this number might get you one of his assistants:  518-828-9458.  Ask Rob why his department can't or won't shovel a simple path to the fence for park goers expecting to easily walk to the fence for a view like nowhere else.  Why not take 10 minutes and just get it done?  Surely he has a sensible reason or two.