BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Where there’s a will, there’s a way. That’s no mere cliché—at least not at West 23rd Street and 11th Avenue, where a newly installed sign reminds those headed toward Hudson River Park that its bike lanes, green spaces, play areas and yes—even the Comfort Station at Chelsea Waterside Park—are there, in part, because of the Robert Trentlyon. A ubiquitous presence for decades at any given gathering meant to improve conditions in Chelsea, the longtime local’s December 7, 2021 passing left behind a body of work that’s being built upon by family members, friends, activists, and advocates—many of whom recently gathered for a dedication ceremony distinguished by a series of testimonials demonstrating the honoree’s positive impact on publishing, politics, public works, and, most tellingly, people.

And so it was on the morning of Wednesday, September 28, as a crowd gathered at the entrance to Chelsea Waterside Park to note the corner was now officially co-named “Robert Trentlyon Way.” But first, because Robert always did his homework before taking a forceful public stance, click here for an overview of Trentlyon’s life and legacy, compiled by Chelsea Community News. For our report from a waterside celebration held earlier this year, click here. Below, find excerpts from remarks preceding the ceremonial unveiling of “Robert Trentlyon Way.” To view the Sept. 28 event (runtime, 29 minutes), click here.

New York City Council Member (District 3) Erik Bottcher | Bob Trentlyon is someone who is responsible for so many of the great things that we enjoy every day here in Chelsea… He, as we know, was the co-founder of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club [CRDC]. He stood up, decades ago, against the Democratic machine that wasn’t serving the people of this community, wasn’t serving the people of New York City… Local publications led by Bob Trentlyon really set a new stand for local journalism for many, many years. . . Bob was a visionary for parks and open space. He saw, right here, dilapidated buildings and crumbling piers and he envisioned ballfields for our kids. He envisioned open space for people to enjoy the waterfront. He envisioned dog runs like the one [enlarged dog run] that will be opening here soon.

Bob Trentlyon warned us about climate change. He warned us about storm surges. And that’s when I first met Bob Trentlyon, when I was working for the governor. He tracked me down and said, “The West Side of Manhattan and all of New York City is in grave danger. If we get hit by a hurricane a major storm, a storm surge could overwhelm our coastline and we could lose many lives and much, much property.” And he went to community boards around the city. He went to Democratic clubs around the city and warned us about this and pointed out that we need storm surge barriers to protect our city. And quite frankly, people listened politely, but they didn’t really absorb what he was saying because it hadn’t happened. Six months later, Super Storm Sandy. That is a true visionary. So today we are memorializing him with this sign that will be here for generations… so people who come to this park will know to whom they can thank.

New York State Senator Brad Hoylman | There are few people who are more synonymous with Chelsea than Bob Trentlyon. So it is so appropriate that we co-name this street corner after him. . . Let’s recall that just earlier this week, the Army Corp. of Engineers announced that they are moving forward with the plan that Bob Trentlyon endorsed. . . Bob was about climate action before so many other people… He was truly a public intellectual as well as being an activist, but he was also someone who really liked kids—which explains why he was such an adamant supporter of Chelsea Wateride Park.

Think about the generations of children who are going to benefit from Bob Trentlyon’s activism… the relief he’s given parents like me, who are busy on a Saturday and need a place for their kids to cool off. That’s what Chelsea Waterside Park is all about. And let’s not forget there’s a Comfort Station, too, that Bob Trentlyon campaigned for. I don’t know if Bob would want us to name a Comfort Station after him [audience member: “Oh, he would!]. Maybe we should… As I say in my business, “That’s a City, not a State, issue.”

New York State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried | Not that anyone’s counting, but I knew Bob Trentlyon for 53 years. He and I first met in 1970 when I was first running for the Assembly and he interviewed me as to whether the paper should endorse my candidacy. Frankly, I don’t even remember whether Bob concluded to endorse me or not, but I certainly remember the interview. It is so fitting that we are here honoring Bob right next to Hudson River Park and Chelsea Waterside Park, that Bob played such an enormous role in.

We come to events like this not only to thank and honor someone like Bob Trentlyon, but coming to these events is really only worthwhile if, when we’re here, we remind ourselves of the extraordinary work for our community that so many people in our community do and what an amazing example of that Bob Trentlyon was and that we take away from here today a resolve that each of us will do a little bit more in the memory of Bob Trentlyon.

Noreen Doyle (President & CEO, Hudson River Park Trust) | Bob inspired people to make things happen… To Assembly Member Gottfried’s point, the activism, the challenge that Bob gave us all is to keep making those [positive] things happen. . . [pointing out the street co-naming location represents a split in what falls under HRPT’s jurisdiction] I somewhat broke the rules when I wrote the letter supporting a street naming her—because if ever there was a person who deserved a specific name, at a specific place, it was Bob Trentlyon. And I’m so happy to see him get this honor today.

Lowell Kern, Community Board 4 (CB4) | When I took over as chair of the Waterfront, Parks & Environment Committee of CB4, Bob was a public member at that time, and he sat down with me to make sure I had all of the relevant history of the park… and make sure I was going to be a proper steward of CB4’s interest in this park. And every time we did something, I would look to Bob to make sure that what we were doing was okay. And when he said we were doing something right, then I knew we were doing something right and that’s what really mattered. . . The last thing Bob was pushing for when I was Chair of the committee [and Chair of CB4] was the environment and storm surge that everyone else here has mentioned. The guy knew what he was doing.

Jason Trentlyon (Bob’s son) | The one thing he showed me and my sister was patience… He knew the years [that projects take to happen]. He and I were walking in this area when it was like broken bottles and a couple of rusted swings… and he said, “What if there were a park here one day?” and I was like, “Yeah, okay, whatever, dad.” But sure enough, these little lights would go off in his head and he would know what is realistic and what’s not… Patience was his thing… He was so patient, and he worked so hard with others to make things happen.

Sam Jackson (Co-President of Metro Flood Defense) | We are continuing the long-term vision [of Bob’s] to not only protect all of New York City, but maintain what is so special about New York City… There’s only one way to protect New York City from the storm surge we saw during Sandy, and that is a layered defense, which includes an outer harbor barrier. This is not included in the current Army Corp plan… Without an outer harbor barrier to protect from storm surge, then the beautiful Hudson River Parkway here and many other areas of the city will need to have 20-foot concrete walls. That is not Robert’s vison for the city… This city was built by people who had long-term vision and would not take no for an answer. And we will not take no for an answer when it comes to an outer harbor surge barrier… We need to think regionally, and we need to think big.

Press Coverage Documenting Robert Trentlyon’s Storm Surge Activism

Area Slowly Gets Power Back But Will City Get Storm Surge Barriers?

https://www.amny.com/news/area-slowly-gets-power-back-but-will-city-get-surge-barriers/

A Visit to the Thames River Barrier (written by Bob Trentlyon)

https://www.amny.com/news/a-visit-to-the-thames-river-barrier-2/

Robert S. Trentlyon, Chelsea Activist, Politico, Newspaper Publisher, Park and Climate Visionary, Dies at 92

Robert S. Trentlyon, Chelsea activist, politico, newspaper publisher, park and climate visionary, dies at 92

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