Hudson River Park and the Hudson River Park Trust began their work in Spring of 1999. Ten years later, the park has become one of New Yorks most treasured green ( and blue ) spaces. With the help and hard work of hundreds of individuals, environmental, community and civic organizations, the Governor, Mayor and local elected officials, a spectacular new waterfront park has transformed the west side of Manhattan. In 2010 the Trust will open another 30 percent of park space in Chelsea and Tribeca. This will include magnificent landscaping, a wealth of new recreational amenities such as a Hudson River Carousel, skateboarding parks, playgrounds, miniature golf, beach volleyball, sports fields, basketball courts, gardens and public art. The 550-acre, 5-mile park, which began construction in 2000, will be roughly 80 percent complete. And in the 10 years that Hudson River Park Trust has been operating and maintaining this remarkable civic facility, it has done so without receiving any City or State operating funds. Hudson River Parks operations are completely self-sustaining through rents, concession fees, sponsorships, grants and donations. I am especially proud of the extraordinary level of maintenance and care that the park receives both on land and in the 400 acres that comprise New York States only designated urban Estuarine Sanctuary. I am honored to be a part of the unique success story that Hudson River Park has become and hope you enjoy your experiences here.