Suit Centers on Hudson River Heliport
The 30th Street Heliport operating in the Hudson River Park violates the original charter of the park and is in violation of a state environmental quality review, local residents and community groups charge in a lawsuit filed yesterday in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
The Friends of Hudson River Park filed the suit against the Hudson River Park Trust and two helicopter operation companies, Air Pegasus and Liberty Helicopters. The organization calls for the heliport to close immediately and for a judge to declare its actions illegal. When the park was created in 1998, its charter allowed for the heliport, which already existed in its location, to continue limited operations for commercial and emergency transportation use, but not for recreation and sightseeing, according to the complaint.
The president of the Hell's Kitchen Neighborhood Association, Andrew Berman, said the heliport's noise and fumes are "completely incompatible" with the general ambiance of the park.
"When the state and the city agreed to create this park, they also agreed that this heliport should be removed. Unfortunately, that has not happened," Mr. Berman said.
Messages left with Air Pegasus, Liberty, and the Hudson River Park Trust were not returned.
