Recently, the City of New York and New York State broke ground on the Harlem River Greenway, a project that will establish a new seven acre waterfront parkland in East Harlem and complete a seven-block link in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, connecting miles of greenway to the north and south.
The project, located in East Harlem between 125th and 132nd Streets, will feature new pedestrian and bike pathways, and a brand-new seven-block waterfront park that celebrates and reflects the neighborhood’s rich culture and heritage.
The waterfront park project, managed by NYCEDC on behalf of NYC Parks, designed by consultants Langan and Starr Whitehouse, with construction managed by Hunter Roberts Construction Group, will feature separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, along with open lawns, native plantings, and public art. Visitors will enjoy excellent views of Randall’s Island and the Bronx, as well as a playground, picnic areas, and barbecue spaces for community gatherings.
As part of this broader vision, the Manhattan Greenway Harlem River project will include a public restroom building at the 127th Street at grade entrance of the park. Public restrooms have been a community priority and will be a valuable amenity for park users.
In addition to enhancing local access and recreational space, it will also create a critical 7-block greenway connection that advances in the completion of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, envisioned to be a 32.5-mile greenway loop around the entire island of Manhattan.
The Manhattan Greenway Harlem River project will address climate vulnerability in a historically disadvantaged community by elevating the shoreline to reduce risks from sea level rise and intense storms, while also expanding waterfront access for East Harlem. The site will be raised approximately two feet to an elevation of 10 to 11 feet, helping provide protection from sea level rise to 2080 projections. The new park will add hundreds of trees, thousands of shrubs, and two acres of lawns, absorbing and retaining stormwater and helping to reduce urban heat island impacts in East Harlem.
NYC Parks, NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC), NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York City are involved in the project with $310 million from the City initiative, paired with a $43 million grant from the New York State Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.
Images: Courtesy of StarrWhitehouse