Robert Pirani is the program director for the New YorkNew Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program at the Hudson River Foundation, and a senior fellow at Regional Plan Association. HEP is a collaboration of government, scientists and the civic sector that helps protect and restore the harbor’s waters and habitat. It is one of 28 such programs around the country authorized under the Clean Water Act. RPA is a non profit organization that focuses on long term planning and capital needs of the NY-NJ-CT metropolitan area.
Prior to joining the Foundation just last January, Mr. Pirani was RPA's vice president for energy and environment for more than 20 years. He played a leading role in a series of park and open space campaigns including the creation of a federal-New York City partnership to jointly manage 10,000 acres around Jamaica Bay; creation of the 14-mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway; the no-cost federal transfer of Governors Island to New York and the National Park Service for park purposes; acquisition of 18,000 acre Sterling Forest State Park; and passage of the federal Highlands Conservation Act and the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. He also founded and was for seven years the executive director of the Governors Island Alliance.
Mr. Pirani received the 2003 Advocate Award from Environmental Advocates of New York and the 2003 President¹s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation/National Trust for Historic Preservation Joint Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation. The New York Harbor School Foundation honored him in 2011. Mr. Pirani has served as a founding board member of the fourstate Highlands Coalition, Governors Island Alliance and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. Mr. Pirani holds a Masters Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and BA in Environmental Studies from Hampshire College.
Prior to joining the Foundation just last January, Mr. Pirani was RPA's vice president for energy and environment for more than 20 years. He played a leading role in a series of park and open space campaigns including the creation of a federal-New York City partnership to jointly manage 10,000 acres around Jamaica Bay; creation of the 14-mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway; the no-cost federal transfer of Governors Island to New York and the National Park Service for park purposes; acquisition of 18,000 acre Sterling Forest State Park; and passage of the federal Highlands Conservation Act and the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. He also founded and was for seven years the executive director of the Governors Island Alliance.
Mr. Pirani received the 2003 Advocate Award from Environmental Advocates of New York and the 2003 President¹s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation/National Trust for Historic Preservation Joint Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation. The New York Harbor School Foundation honored him in 2011. Mr. Pirani has served as a founding board member of the fourstate Highlands Coalition, Governors Island Alliance and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. Mr. Pirani holds a Masters Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and BA in Environmental Studies from Hampshire College.
