The reaction from the city's architectural community has been swift and strong, with an online petition for Esposito's reinstatement garnering more than 200 signatures in 24 hours.
The founder and chairman of global real estate firm Hines died August 23 at age 95. The visionary developer received a Lifetime Achievement Award from RECORD in 2013 for his patronage of architecture.
The 7-acre waterfront space is the first state park in New York named for an LGBTQ person and trans woman of color. Public art and infrastructure improvements are planned for 2021.