Big news!!
We were excited to stand this morning with Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials to announce a massive project that will develop implementation plans for five (!) new greenways in New York City! Due in part to the tireless advocacy of the NYC Greenways Coalition, the City of New York received $7 million from the Biden-Harris Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to plan new pedestrian and cyclist corridors, connecting communities historically underserved and neglected by previous greenway expansion. Let’s take a look!
BGI is a founding convener of the NYC Greenways Coalition, which includes more than 45 greenway-aligned groups across New York City.
The city’s press release includes many more details about the corridors, and our summary is below.
US DOT announced the RAISE grant in summer 2022. After a year-long period evaluating multiple communities throughout the five boroughs and engagement with Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and the NYC Greenways Coalition, NYC DOT has announced studies for the following five proposed greenways:
Historic Brooklyn: bringing the greenways running through Ocean Parkway and Eastern Parkway to 21st Century standards and connecting to Broadway Junction. Our understanding is this will include surface renovations and safety features. (12 miles)
South Bronx: stretching from Randalls Island Park to Throgs Neck with improved connections to Hunts Point and waterfront parks. (15 miles)
Northwest Queens: stretching from the East River in Long Island City to Bayside. (16 miles)
Southeast Queens: extending from Spring Creek Park in Brooklyn to Brookville Park in Queens with connections to JFK Airport and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. (7 miles)
- Staten Island North Shore: stretching from the Goethals Bridge to the Verrazzano Bridge. (10 miles)
This is in addition to a sixth greenway study (announced last April) currently being planned for the Bronx side of the Harlem River. This will connect the neighborhoods in the western Bronx between Van Cortland Park and Randall’s Island with a continuous, seven-mile walking and cycling path.
Our understanding is that starting in 2024, NYC DOT will start the planning process for one of these greenways every six months. NYC DOT expects each project will take approximately two years to produce a completed implementation plan. BGI and the NYC Greenways Coalition are dedicated to expanding the city’s greenway network, and will work closely with city agencies to ensure local communities have a voice in how these greenways will be built.
Just as the 2012 plan for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway serves as the blueprint for construction, the plans developed from the RAISE grant will do the same for multiple communities throughout our city.
Stay tuned for many more details on how you can get involved, and please help spread the word about this major expansion of New York City’s greenway network.