FIRST PHASE OF REVITALIZED EAST RIVER PARK OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

The first phase of East River Park is officially open to the public, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the NYC Department of Design and Construction. Following the original 2014 vision for 10 miles of protective park and public realm in the wake of Superstorm Sandy known as the BIG U, this quarter-mile stretch on Manhattan’s east side brings a variety of new amenities to the Lower East Side community, including basketball and tennis courts, picnic and BBQ areas, a multi-use turf field, open lawn space, and inviting zones for nature exploration and water play. Part of the larger $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project that will protect 110,000+ New Yorkers, the opening marks a major milestone in New York City’s efforts to reduce flood risk and build a more resilient waterfront. “With the opening of the first phase of East River Park, we see the first physical manifestation of a decade-long vision: an archipelago of parks forming an elevated, undulating new landscape – a “Park-ipelago” if you will. Each island of green is devoted to a use and character decided by the community. Rather than separating the city from the waterfront, we’ve designed a public realm that invites people in with new connections across the FDR, transforming flood protection into a tapestry of everyday experiences. The result is infrastructure that not only strengthens but also enhances the city’s coastline. It protects, connects, and inspires – proof that the future of our cities can be both safe from flood and full of life.” – Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG ESCR is designed and developed under the leadership of the NYC Department of Design and Construction with local residents of the Lower East Side, and in collaboration with our many partners, including AKRF, MNLA, ONE Architecture & Urbanism, Arcadis, Jacobs, and others.