East River Park

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This article is about the park in Manhattan. For the park in Brooklyn, see East River State Park. For the park in Queens formerly known as East River Park, see Astoria Park.

Coordinates: 40°43′03″N 73°58���27″W / 40.71750°N 73.97417°W / 40.71750; -73.97417

The promenade along the East River opened in 2010; the Williamsburg Bridge is in the background

East River Park, also called John V. Lindsay East River Park, is 57.5-acre (20 ha) public park located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, part of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Bisected by the Williamsburg Bridge, it stretches along the East River from Montgomery Street up to 12th Street on the east side of the FDR Drive. Its amphitheater, built in 1941 just south of Grand Street, has been reconstructed and is often used for public performances.[1] The park includes football, baseball, and soccer fields; tennis, basketball, and handball courts; a running track; and bike paths, including the East River Greenway. Fishing is another popular activity.

The park and the surrounding neighborhood were flooded during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 prompting the city to consider flood mitigation plans that would alter the park. In December 2019, the New York City Council voted to approve the controversial $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project, involving the park's complete demolition and subsequent renovation, and is slated for completion in 2026. A New York Harbor Storm-Surge Barrier is also under consideration, which would also demolish and rebuild this and other parks.

History[]

Conceived in the early 1930s by Robert Moses, East River Park opened on July 27, 1939.[2] Prior to this time, the East River waterfront had been an active shipping yard and later became home to many of the city's poorest immigrants. The park became the largest open green space on the Lower East Side. Since that time, the park has been encroached upon by various developments such as the widening of the FDR Drive and the extension of South Street.[1] Still, the park provides a respite for residents of the Lower East Side, particularly in summer months when there are refreshing breezes from the river.

In 1998, through an agreement with the New York City Parks Department, the Lower East Side Ecology Center became the steward of the park. For 20 years, this local environmental nonprofit has been the park's caretaker and had its offices and education center inside the Fire Boat House, located in the park near the Williamsburg Bridge. Each year the Ecology Center led thousands of volunteers in up-keeping the park, tending to garden beds, and enhancing the park by planting hundreds of thousands of native plants and bulbs.[3]

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the city rebuilt the amphitheater, which had fallen into disrepair. A new soccer field was also built at this time. Companies throughout the U.S. donated materials for the reconstruction, and the project was finished in record time and dedicated to those children who lost parents in the attacks. In December 2001, East River Park was renamed after former New York City Mayor John Lindsay.[4]

In 2008 the City Parks Foundation brought free music, dance, and theater arts programming to the amphitheater in an effort to further engage the surrounding communities in the revitalization of the park. The first performance held was a music concert by Fiery Furnaces which drew an audience of 1,500. KRS-One and Willie Colón also performed in 2008, drawing crowds upward of 3,000 people.

Hurricane Sandy and renovation[]

Hurricane Sandy flooded the East River Park and the Lower East Side in 2012 prompting the city to consider flood mitigation plans that would alter the park.[5] In December 2019, the New York City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the controversial $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project that will involve a complete demolition of the park and subsequent renovation that will elevate it by 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m); the project is slated for completion in 2025.[6] Original plans called for closing the park entirely from 2020 to 2023,[3] but after protests from residents, the plans were modified in late 2019 to a partial five-year closure.[7]

Critics of the current renovation plan including members of the group East River Park Action have voiced concerns over the cost of the plan, the lack of involvement of community residents, and the destruction of plant life including more than 1,000 mature trees.[6][8] Alternative plans for flood mitigation including building storm barriers along the FDR have been proposed by community members who argue that the park closure will primarily impact low-income NYCHA residents and that the renovation project will leave the Lower East Side especially vulnerable to storm surge during the renovation.[6][8] Supporters of the plan include city councilwoman Carlina Rivera, her Democratic club, and Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES).[9]

In February 2020, a dozen groups and 75 individuals, including members of East River Park Action, sued the city to stop the ESCR based on the grounds that the plan constitutes park alienation and requires approval from the state legislature.[10][11] The judge ruled against opposition groups and in August 2020, the city was given approval to begin park demolition, which is currently underway.[12] The demolition began in December 2021,[13] prompting protests and court orders against the work.[14][15] Incoming city councilman for the Lower East Side and the East Village Christopher Marte expressed support for the protesters.[16] A resident told Downtown Express, "[W]e need a resiliency plan that makes sense. They've changed what their plan is over and over and over again. There was a cheaper, much more sustainable plan."[17]

The construction project expected to last until 2026, during which time significant sections of the park will be closed.[18]


  • The park has numerous athletic facilities, for baseball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis and running, all slated to be destroyed in the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project.

  • The amphitheater in fall 2008 (now destroyed).

  • The walkway in the park, which runs along the FDR Drive, being resurfaced in 2010 as part of a general overhaul of the park; this section was still to be worked on.

  • Aerial view of East River Park in 2017

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "East River Park - Historical Sign". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  2. ^ "East River Park Will Open Today". The New York Times. July 27, 1939. p. 16. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Hanania, Joseph (January 18, 2019). "To Save East River Park, the City Intends to Bury It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Mayor Giuliani Signs Bill Renaming Manhattan's East River Park John V. Lindsay/East River Park". Nyc.gov. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  5. ^ Sanders, Anna (October 2, 2019). "East River Park to remain partially open during reconstruction as city changes storm plan again". nydailynews.com. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Vieth, Lydia (December 9, 2019). "Stemming the Flood: East River Park Resign Approved". .{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Ricciulli, Valeria (October 2, 2019). "East River Park won't be completely closed during flood protection construction". Curbed NY. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Pereira, Sydney (January 24, 2019). "Revamped East Side flood protection plan debated at packed City Council hearing". Curbed.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "East River Park Construction Resumes After City Claims Victory in Lawsuit | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side". Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  10. ^ SHAHRIGIAN, SHANT (February 10, 2020). "Activists sue NYC to keep East River Park open vs. renovated for years". New York Daily News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Anderson, Lincoln (February 5, 2020). "A dozen groups, 75 individuals sue to stop East River Park resiliency plan". .{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Anderson, Lincoln (August 20, 2020). "Judge rules East Side resiliency project can start". .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Kimmelman, Michael (December 2, 2021). "What Does It Mean to Save a Neighborhood?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Chang, Sophia (December 11, 2021). "City Demolition Of East River Park Underway In Violation Of Court Order, Protesters Say". Gothamist. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Feldman, Ari Ephraim (December 10, 2021). "City resumes East River Park work despite judge's order". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Moses, Dean (December 6, 2021). "East River Park activists cuffed for blocking flood protection construction, again". amNewYork. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "DEX12162021 - Page 3".
  18. ^ "East Side Coastal Resiliency". www1.nyc.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2022.

External links[]

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