Community Board 2 members discuss masks, signage and traffic flow in parks and along the Hudson Greenway

Manhattan Community Board 2’s Parks and Waterfront members discussed whether masks should be encouraged or required in parks, how the rules would be enforced, and how to balance runner and cyclist traffic with slower pedestrian areas along the Greenway.

The conversation began when Rich Cacopolo, chair of the Parks and Waterfront Committee, said constituents raised concerns about people in Hudson River Park not wearing masks. Board members, park staff and residents exchanged perspectives on signage, social pressure, enforcement by PEP officers and police, and whether faster moving users should be routed separately from pedestrians.

Several committee members said signage alone is unlikely to change behavior and recommended a mix of approaches: clear, locally tailored signs that appeal to community responsibility; targeted public‑service messaging; distribution of masks by enforcement or park staff where possible; and outreach that uses local voices and on‑the‑ground social pressure. Jonathan suggested recruiting neighborhood celebrities for short social media PSAs; Coral and others recommended messages framed around protecting neighbors and frontline workers. Mar and others emphasized that enforcement is uneven and that simple guidance is easier for residents and officers to apply.

Board members discussed operational options that intersect with the city’s Open Streets efforts, including dedicating lanes on West Street for bicycles and fast traffic and limiting speed in adjacent park areas so walkers and families can stay separated from high‑speed traffic. Participants noted practical complications: the State Department of Transportation’s repaving work on West Street and the difficulty of policing who is jogging, running or in the same household when people sit in groups.

Several members stressed nuance: runners and cyclists said they prefer not to be confined to slow lanes at all times, some speakers recommended peak‑hour or weekend/weekday distinctions, and others raised equity concerns for families with small children who cannot wear masks. The group agreed to seek further guidance from the Hudson River Park Trust, the local police precinct and parks staff and to explore signage and targeted outreach in the near term.

Robin Rothstein, chair of the Arts & Institutions Committee, said she would collect notes and asked board members to help coordinate follow‑up. The meeting did not adopt a formal resolution; board members asked staff to gather additional information and report back.