Riverside's Cherry Walk Closed, Reopening In Time For Spring Blossoms

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY – The Cherry Walk Greenway, an idyllic stretch of Riverside Park between 100th and 125th streets, will be closed for reconstruction until at least March 2025, according to the Parks Department.

“The Cherry Walk reconstruction is a long-awaited project that cyclists and the community have been requesting for years,” a Parks spokesperson told Patch.

“We will reconstruct a section of the greenway from 100th [Street] to St. Clair Place, to resurface the entire length. To ensure the safest cycling and walking path for our patrons, we collaborated with NYC DOT to develop a detour plan through Riverside Drive, connecting to St. Clair Place.”

St. Clair Place, also known as 129th Street, provides a link between the Henry Hudson Parkway and Harlem. Although it's not quite as harrowing a connection point as the 79th Street Rotunda was (and may be once again, depending on who you ask), it's another of the city's many convoluted traffic interchanges, which present a risky obstacle for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

This isn't the first time Cherry Walk has been closed for repairs in recent years. Back in 2020, the path was shut down for several months to address damage from Hurricane Sandy, prompting a wave of frustration from vocal locals. That chorus has once again renewed its familiar lament.

Fortunately, the project is only expected to last six months, which means that Cherry Walk should reopen in time for peak cherry blossom season in the spring. Known by insiders as one of the best places in the city to enjoy cherry blossoms far from Central Park’s crowds, Cherry Walk is one of Riverside Park’s many quiet treasures.

Interested parties can keep an eye on the project’s progress here.

The $1.5 million reconstruction is being funded by the mayor’s office.