HELL’S KITCHEN — Supporters have launched a campaign on fundraising site Indiegogo in the hopes of raising $15,000 to build a park near the Lincoln Tunnel.
The green space, which got a unanimous thumbs-up from Community Board 4 last week, would be built on three lanes between West 34th and 35th streets on Dyer Avenue, right at the traffic-choked entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel.
As of Monday morning, the campaign had raised $875 towards its goal. An anonymous donor has also pledged to match contributions dollar for dollar, up to $7,500, according to the site.
Along with the site, supporters created a video, complete with images of the proposed design, to raise awareness for the park.
The initial cash would remove a median and traffic light from the Port Authority owned street, making space for the park itself.
Like many online fundraisers, park organizers are offering rewards for various levels of donations — for a $25 "Park Seed" contribution, donors will get a certificate and a ticket to a park benefit party in January.
Further up the scale, a $5,000 "Park Founder" donation will net you 30 tickets to the benefit, your name on the park entrance, a mention in a press release and recognition at the park's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Organizers plan several community input meetings over the next few months to figure out a final design for the park.
They hope to raise the funds and begin work on the first phase by March, and plan to lobby the city to pay for further costs to actually build the park.
