By the Numbers
1B+
The amount committed to add quality open space in Inwood, East Harlem, Harlem, and East Midtown.
Manhattan Waterfront Greenway
Location:
Manhattan
Project Status:
Ongoing
Manhattan’s next big park isn’t in the center. It’s on the edge.
The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is an important open space resource for the city, providing access to the shoreline for a variety of activities, integrating larger parks within a connected network, and providing a bike path for recreation and commuting. This is an opportunity to create public open space, providing residents in some of Manhattan’s most densely populated neighborhoods with improved access to the city’s waterfront. When complete, the 32.5-mile Greenway loop will connect a network of green spaces totaling more than 1,000 acres—a space larger than Central Park—running continuously around the entire island. Joggers, walkers, cyclists, and people of varying ages and abilities from every neighborhood should have access to the Greenway that is designed within the context of each unique neighborhood.
Closing the Loop
The City has made historic investments to jump-start closing the loop, committing more than $1B to quality open space that integrates the Greenway into Inwood, East Harlem, Harlem, Lower East Side, and East Midtown. Most of these gaps are in low-income neighborhoods historically cut off from the waterfront.
Manhattan’s geography and historical land uses have made completion of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway challenging. Consideration of sea level rise and valuable habitats also demand that we are creative and resilient in our future Greenway designs. Each location has its own unique needs. We look forward to engaging with each community throughout the design process.
By the Water
Each section of Greenway is designed for the neighborhood it serves, offering unprecedented access to the water and to the rest of Manhattan.
01
03
The Hudson River Greenway has vastly improved quality of life on the West Side, and we want families in every corner in the borough to have that same access to bike, walk and play along the water.
Bill de Blasio
Former Mayor of New York City
The Vision: Closing the Loop
The grand vision of “closing the loop” is guided by four principles:
- Maximize the location along the waterfront: Working within the context of the existing landscape, the ideal location is along the waterfront wherever possible.
- Enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists: The safety of the Greenway’s users is central to its design.
- Improve access from upland areas: In order for communities to benefit from the increased open space and waterfront, convenient, frequent, and safe access from upland areas is critical.
- Account for sea level rise: Greenway design should account for sea level rise in its alignment, elevations, and material choices.
Related Documents
The following provides a view into what a completed Greenway might look like, with recommendations for all seven sites. As the projects advance, there will be ongoing public engagement in all phases of design and development.
