City Commits $250M To Close Manhattan Greenway Gaps

MANHATTAN, NY — The city unveiled plans Thursday to fill in the remaining gaps in a 32.5-mile greenway that will span the entirety of Manhattan.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his administration will commit more than $250 million toward the completion of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway to fill in gaps in Inwood, Harlem, Washington Heights, Midtown and the East Village. The investments will result in the creation of 15 new acres of publicly-accessible open space and will open up Manhattan's waterfront to new communities, city officials said.

"The full potential of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway has yet to be realized," de Blasio said in a statement. "We’re committed to closing the gaps along the Greenway, which will strengthen neighborhoods and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to our iconic waterfront."

Plans for a Manhattan Waterfront Greenway were initiated in 1993 under Mayor David Dinkins. The completed greenway will result in more than 1,000 acres of open space along the Hudson, East and Harlem rivers.

Here's a breakdown of how the city plans to fill in the greenway's remaining gaps:

Inwood (Sherman Creek to Inwood Hill Park)

• City will invest $41 million to create a waterfront esplanade at Academy Street along the Sherman Creek. This esplanade will connect to the Harlem River Greenway to the south
• City will invest $9 million to restore the North Cove at the northern tip of Sherman Creek.
• Both projects are expected to begin the design phase in 2019 and construction in 2021.

Harlem River Greenway Link (E. 125th St.–E. 132nd St.)

• City will invest $101 million in closing this seven-block gap as part of the East Harlem rezoning plan passed by City Council in 2017.
• The new seven-acre open space will feature separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, open lawns, native plantings and art installations.
• Construction is expected to begin in 2021. A request for proposals was launched in August.

Esplanade Gardens-Harlem River Speedway (E. 145th St.–E. 163rd St.)

• Direct access to waterfront is cut off by Harlem River Drive, subway railyards and private property in this section of Harlem.
• City will invest $5 million to reconstruct Harlem Lane Playground from West 150th Street to West 154th Street. The new playground can connect with Harlem River Park to the south and Holcombe Rucker Park to the north.
• Harlem Lane Playground project expected to be complete in 2021.

East Midtown Greenway (EMG) (E. 53rd St.–E. 61st St.)

• City to invest $100 million to connect the reconstructed Andrew Haswell Green Park to the north at East 61st Street and to the existing greenway to the south.
• Construction to begin in 2019 with an expected 2022 opening.

United Nations (UN) Esplanade (E. 41st St.–E. 53rd St.)

• City seeking funding for design and construction of an esplanade extension consistent with the East Midtown Greenway that will connect existing greenways at East 53rd Street and East 41st Street.
• No construction start date identified.

In addition to filling in gaps in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the city also committed to making upgrades to existing infrastructure in Washington Heights and the East Village.

East River Pinch Point (E. 13th St.–E. 15th St.)

• Bridge-like structure will be created to connect East River Park to the south to Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk to the north.
• City working with East Side Coastal Resiliency Project to finalize design.

Fort Washington Park (W. 181st St.–W. 186th St.)

• City to create waterfront alignment that would connect Fort Washington Park to open space near the footing of the George Washington Bridge. The goal of the alignment will be to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians while creating views of the Hudson River and New Jersey.

Photos/renderings courtesy NYC Economic Development Corporation