High Line gets $5M from city; critics say money could have gone elsewhere

Despite raking in $85 million from the private sector, the High Line is slated to get $5 million in city funds, which has city park advocates questioning the need, according to DNAinfo. The $5 million payment, from the 2013 city budget’s capital expenditures, will be used to construct the $90 million third portion of the park.

Compared to the High Line, the Hudson River Park, which includes the financially troubled Pier 40, got $618,000 from the city. Meanwhile Brooklyn Bridge Park is slated to receive $5.5 million in city money to develop the beach at Pier 4 and Habitat Island.

“In reality, less than half of that amount could bring the first new playground to Chelsea in 44 years,” Matt Weiss, who is spearheading an effort to develop a park on a 10,000-square-foot Department of Sanitation lot located at 136 West 20th Street, told DNAinfo of the High Line’s $5 million. Another DNAinfo source said the money could be used to fix Hurricane Irene damage on Pier 84.

A City Council spokesperson did not respond to DNAinfo’s requests for comment. [DNAinfo] — Zachary Kussin