TRIBECA — A long-delayed maritime education center is finally coming to shore at Pier 26.
State funding totaling $10 million has been secured to create the “world-class environmental and education center…that will promote scientific research and public discovery of the Hudson River estuary and surrounding water systems,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday in a press release.
Money for the 10,000-to-12,000-square-foot center, called an "estuarium," includes $5 million from the Port Authority, $4.75 million from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and a $335,000 matching grant for planning and design from New York State's Department of State.
The state will put out a request for expressions of interest to find the organization that will establish and run the research center on the pier, at West Street near North Moore Street.
“Hudson River Park’s environmental educational programs are already prized by thousands of families and students each year,” Hudson River Park Trust President Madelyn Wils said in a statement. “The opportunity to bring a world-class research, education and outreach center to downtown is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Along with housing a state-of-the art research facility, the esturiam will also run outdoor programming on the public pier, officials said.
Officials with the Trust previously said they needed an additional $10 million to build a permanent estuarium on the pier, beyond the $5 million they had already secured.
The Trust and the governor's office did not immediately respond to questions about when the estuarium would open.
The pier will also soon be home to free kayaking at its newly constructed boathouse. A restaurant is slated to open alongside the boathouse in 2015.
