Citywide Greenways

Greenways are continuous, multi-use corridors designed for human-powered and electric-assist transportation and recreation. Defined and named through community-driven planning, greenways often follow natural or man-made linear spaces such as railways, highways, rivers, waterfronts, and parkland.

Milestone

$7.25M

Federal RAISE grant awarded to NYC for greenways planning

NYCEDC currently leads 13 greenway capital projects, totaling approximately 7.5 miles and representing over $1.5B of investment from the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway to the Staten Island Waterfront Greenway on the North Shore and the Queensway in Central Queens In addition, NYCEDC is working with NYCDOT and NYC Parks to study opportunities for long-term greenway expansion planning.

Long-term Citywide Greenways Expansion Planning

The Long-term Citywide Greenway Expansion Planning initiative focuses on expanding the greenway in underinvested neighborhoods outside of Manhattan and developing best practices for the planning, design, and implementation of future greenways. This expansion will be informed by community engagement and technical analysis, with the goals of the expanded network to:

Increase equity in the city’s greenway network
Enhance connections to parks and public open spaces
Increase economic development opportunities
Encourage increased bike and micromobility use
Boost New York City’s public health and resilience
Create new destinations

Engagement Updates

NYCEDC kicked off public engagement in August 2025 to understand community priorities around future citywide greenway planning.

From August to November 2025, the Citywide Greenways team conducted outreach at events across all five boroughs to share information about the citywide initiative, promote digital surveys, and receive feedback on the current greenway network and future improvements. The team attended a total of 12 events and engaged with almost 400 people. To learn more, read our report.

Thank you for sharing your feedback on the design of future greenways across the city! The Citywide Greenways team gathered public feedback on the city’s greenway network through a digital survey and interactive map tool. The survey and interactive map were open for comment from August 2025 to April 2026 and were promoted through outreach to community-based organizations (CBOs), community boards, public events, stakeholder meetings, ferry ads, and physical postcards. A summary of the survey's findings and the map contributions will be posted on this page in the coming months.

Other Greenways Projects and Initiatives

NYCEDC and the City are working to expand the greenway network across New York City.

A person rides a bicycle along a tree-lined path with colorful flowers, lampposts, and skyscrapers in the background, under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Manhattan Waterfront Greenway: When complete, the 32.5-mile greenway will create a connective network of green spaces that loops around the entire island of Manhattan.

Early Action Implementation Plans: NYC DOT and NYC Parks are leading the development of five early action implementation plans to expand the greenway network outside Manhattan, which will collectively add 60 miles of greenways.

People walk, cycle, and relax along a busy waterfront path lined with trees and benches. A ferry and sailboat are visible on the water, and the city skyline can be seen in the distance under a blue sky.

North Shore Action Plan: The Action Plan delivers on a vibrant, mixed-use community for Staten Island—the centerpiece being the long-promised, two-mile waterfront esplanade from Stapleton to Tompkinsville to St. George.