NYC Unveils Master Plan That Would Build New Greenways Citywide: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — City officials released a "Greater Greenways" plan on Wednesday that aims to expand bike and pedestrian pathways, as well as increase public access to parks and waterfronts citywide.

The plan identifies specific gaps in the city’s existing greenway network and indicates work currently being done to establish new corridors, officials said.

The greenway network in the city currently consist of 506 miles of existing bicycle and pedestrian corridors.

The plan also maps several areas across as potential sites for new greenways.

“Public spaces create vibrant spaces where New Yorkers can move, play, and thrive, and our administration is committed to increasing access to public spaces like parks and waterfronts for every New Yorker,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “While it may be ‘We Outside Summer,’ our administration is making sure every neighborhood has a front-row seat to New York’s beautiful outdoors all year long for generations to come.”

The greenway plan’s development is the first such plan developed in over 30 years, officials said.

In addition, the Greater Greenways plan builds upon the five outer-borough greenway planning corridors announced by the mayor in 2023 and the Harlem River Greenway, which began implementation in the Bronx earlier this year.

“New Yorkers love their parks and waterfront – and greenways are the way they increasingly reach and enjoy these wonderful spaces,” NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, for too long, cyclists and pedestrians have mostly found greenways adjacent to the city’s wealthier neighborhoods. Under Mayor Adams, we have been reimagining public space and this has begun to change, including through the development of a greenway along the Harlem River waterfront in the Bronx. Greater Greenways is a plan that gives us a clear map for the road ahead – freshly paved and fun to walk and ride."

According to officials, the plan’s five main goals for future greenways are enhancing NYC’s transportation network, promoting social equity and accessibility, supporting health and wellness, fortifying environmental resilience and fostering economic growth.

The early action corridors are planned to be completed by 2028.