Harch 2013

1HE
EA81
RtVER
LUEWA
PLAN
Hanhattan orough Presdent
3cott H. 3trnger
New York 3tate Assembymember
ran Kavanagh
New York 3tate Department of 3tate
Dvson of Coasta Resources
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PREPARED FOR
Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer
New York State Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh
New York State Department of State
Division of Coastal Resources
PROJECT PARTNERS
Community Board 3
Community Board 6
Lower East Side Ecology Center
PREPARED BY
WXY architecture + urban design
CONSULTANT TEAM
WXY architecture + urban design
AKRF
ARCADIS
Domingo Gonzalez Associates
eDesign Dynamics
HR&A Advisors
Judith Heintz
Philip Habib and Associates
S + M Studios
Weidlinger Associates
The East River Blueway Plan was prepared
for the New York State Department of State
with funds provided under Title 11
of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Biodiversity
The degree of variation
of species and a
measure of health of a
ecosystem
Bioswale
Green infrastructure
landscaping found
predominantly
alongside roadways
Brownfield
Abandoned or
underused industrial
and commercial
facilities whose
development is
complicated by real or
expected environmental
contaminations
Bulkhead
A retaining wall or
seawall to maintain
coastal land or beach
CSO
Combined Sewer
Overflow is the
discharge of a sewer
system which combines
sanitary and stormwater
sewers into bodies of
water (rivers, canals,
the ocean, etc.)
CSO Outfalls
Points where CSOs
discharge
GI
Green Infrastructure,
generally incorporating
plants and soil in
designs to capture
stormwater runoff
and/or reduce CSO
discharges
Green roof
Vegetation covering
the roof of a building,
used primarily as green
infrastructure, as well
as to provide insulation
and lessen the urban
heat island effect
Greenway
A long, generally narrow
piece of land, where a
more natural environ-
ment is encouraged,
which is managed for
public recreation and
slow travel
Hold the Line
Engineered strategies
to protect existing
coastal properties and
infrastructure
Lido
Public outdoor
swimming pool and
surrounding facilities
Managed Retreat
Allowing the shoreline
to overtake developed
land, while relocating
existing buildings and
infrastructure
Raised Table
A speed hump with a
flat section of several
feet between the
ramps on either end.
This traffic calming
measure is often used
as a crosswalk, and is
preferred option of
emergency responders
Resilience
Design to minimize
damage to structures
from natural disasters
such as flooding. This
does not mean making
structures impervious
Riprap
Rocks and other
material used to protect
shorelines against
erosion
KEY TERMS AND
ABBREVIATIONS
KEY CONSULTING
AGENCIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Con Ed
Consolidated Edison
Company of New York
DEC
NYS Department of
Environmental
Conservation
DCP
NYC Department of City
Planning
DEP
NYC Department of
Environmental
Protection
DPR
NYC Department of
Parks & Recreation
DOT
NYC Department of
Transportation
EDC
NYC Economic
Development
Corporation
MWA
Metropolitan
Waterfront Alliance
NYCHA
Tenant Associations
NYC Housing Authority
Wayfinding
An organized system
of navigational
guidance, preferably
using coherent visible,
audible, or tactile cues
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
THE BLUEWAY WATERFRONT AREAS
PROTECTING THE WATERFRONT
BLUEWAY DESIGN
1 South Street Waterfront Area
2 East River Park Waterfront Area
3 Stuyvesant Cove / Waterside Plaza Waterfront Area
BLUEPRINT FOR THE BLUEWAY
APPENDIX
5
7
13
17
23
28
30
42
62
72
78
Rendering of birds-eye
view of proposed
East River Blueway Plan
from Stuyvesant Cove
to Brooklyn Bridge
view o lhe Lasl River Lsplanade
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0ear Friends,
Welcome lo lhe Lasl River lueway Plan, an ambilious new blueprinl desined lo
re-imaine a slrelch o Hanhallans precious walerronl-rom lhe rooklyn ride lo
Lasl 38lh Slreel-and also lo prolecl our beloved cily rom risin waler levels and lhe
nexl real slorm.
Lver since our oices underlook lhis pro|ecl in 2010, our ob|eclive wilh lhe lueway
Plan was lo open up lhis under-apprecialed walerronl area, crealin beachronl
access, recrealional aclivilies, lree-lined walkways, and olher amenilies lhal would
brin people closer lo lhe waler. ul we also knew lhal we had lo orliy lhis low-lyin
area aainsl slorms and loodin lhal are increasin daners as lhe climale chanes and
river levels rise.
When Hurricane Sandy hil in Cclober 2012, il conirmed our worsl ears aboul lhe need
lo plan dierenlly or lhe ulure. Now lhal lhe winds have died and lhe walers have
receded, we musl el down lo lhe |ob o makin our coaslal communilies more resilienl
lhrouh beller inraslruclure and ecoloical ealures lhal provide nalural proleclion
rom loodin.
As you will see in lhe ollowin paes, our plan calls or nalural beaches and olher
recrealional amenilies alon lhe shoreline, bul also wellands lo calch and cleanse
slorm waler runo and provide buers aainsl waves and loodin. We propose a
oolbride spannin lhe F0R 0rive al Lasl 14lh Slreel lhal would nol only improve
pedeslrian access, bul also prolecl lhe Con Ld power slalion rom ulure loodwalers.
We believe lhe lueway Plan oers a model o communily enaemenl and plannin
as New York now looks lo revilalize slorm-ballered areas rom reezy Poinl and
Coney lsland lo Red Hook and lhe devaslaled shores o Slalen lsland. 0eveloped wilh
Communily oards 3 and and lhe Lower Lasl Side Lcoloy Cenler as pro|ecl parlners,
and more lhan 40 olher communily-based oranizalions and counlless local residenls
who oered sueslions and eedback, lhis is a plan buill by lhe communily and or
lhe communily.
We wanl lo say lhank you lo all lhose communily parlicipanls, lo our ellow elecled
oicials who cosponsored lhe public workshops and whose supporl will be vilal lo
realizin lhis vision, lo lhe cily and slale aency represenlalives who oered lheir
insihls and lechnical experlise, and lo our desin leam al W X Y archileclure + urban
desin who worked wilh all o us lo dislill our many ideas and aspiralions inlo lhe
uniied vision presenled in lhis reporl.
1he lremendous enlhusiasm, crealivily, and delerminalion lhis communily displayed
durin lhe plannin process-and o course lhe way so many New Yorkers bravely
wealhered Hurricane Sandy-have convinced us more lhan ever lhal loelher we can
build a slroner, more resilienl cily.
Sincerely,
Scoll H. Slriner
Hanhallan orouh Presidenl
FOREWORD
F
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D
rian Kavanah
New York Slale Assemblymember
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Rendered view o proposed
sallwaler marsh, ishin piers
and planled areas by lhe
F0R 0rive downspouls in lhe
Soulh Slreel Walerronl Area
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EXECU1tVE
8UMMAR
1he Lasl River lueway Plan (lueway
Plan is a communily-based walerronl
inilialive lhal eslablishes a plannin and
urban desin ramework or Hanhallans
Lasl River walerronl, rom lhe rooklyn
ride lo Lasl 38lh Slreel. 1his sludy aims
lo eslablish a uniied and suslainable
vision or a slrelch o walerronl wilh
lhe polenlial lo provide new recrealional
and educalional opporlunilies, while
improvin slorm resiliency.
1he sludy, unded by lhe New York
Slale 0eparlmenl o Slale 0ivision o
Coaslal Resources, was commissioned
by Hanhallan orouh Presidenl
Scoll H. Slriner and New York Slale
Assemblymember rian Kavanah, in
collaboralion wilh Hanhallan Communily
oard 3, Hanhallan Communily oard ,
and lhe Lower Lasl Side Lcoloy Cenler.
1he Lasl River, once one o lhe mosl
polluled walerways in New York Cily, has
been lransormed in recenl decades
ollowin lhe decline o induslrial uses
alon lhe walerronl and environmenlal
leislalion o lhe 170s. A river lhal was
once inlolerable is now a souhl-aler
spol or millions o New Yorkers who
are eaer or reen space and who seek
respile by lhe walers ede. Similar
lransormalions have laken place in cilies
and lowns across lhe counlry, leadin
lo lhe developmenl o `blueways.
1hese blueways are holislically desined
parks and open spaces lhal inlerale
walerronls inlo lhe lie o a cily.
Wilh new walerronl developmenl
lhrouhoul New York Cily-rom lhe ronx
River and Lon lsland Cily lo Red Hook,
Sainl Ceore, and Hudson River Park-
New Yorkers are now slarlin lo swim, ish
and boal in and around lheir surroundin
walers. Lven lhe walerronl norlh o lhe
lueway sludy area, rom Lasl 38lh lo
Lasl 0lh Slreel, should be ellin an
esplanade ollowin leislalion aulhored
by Assemblymember Kavanah. 1he
walerronl is al lasl bein reincorporaled
inlo lhe lives o New Yorkers.
However, lhe Lasl River walerronl
rom lhe rooklyn ride lo Lasl 38lh
Slreel has nol received lhe same kind
o allenlion. Some challenes alon
lhis our-mile slrelch o lhe walerronl
include: ramenled uses, lhe orebodin
barrier o lhe F0R 0rive, and lhe oversihl
o mulliple cily and slale aencies.
As a resull, a clear and comprehensive
plan or lhis precious walerronl land
is needed, a plan lhal should lake inlo
accounl lhe needs o lhe surroundin
communilies and respond lo lhe
challenes o exlreme wealher evenls and
radual sea level rise. As Hurricane Sandy
underscored, developin such a plan is no
loner |usl a maller o improvin public
access and beauliyin lhe riverronl, il
is an urenl maller o public saely wilh
implicalions or lhe enlire cily.
lndeed, even as New Yorkers bein lo
en|oy lheir walerronl, lhe cily is acin
lhe new paradim o climale chane
and a rowin awareness o lhe need
or environmenlal slewardship. 1he
unprecedenled impacl o Hurricane Sandy
has reinorced lhe need lo slrenlhen
and prolecl our shoreline, crilical
inraslruclure, and neihborhoods.
1he Lasl River lueway Plan is a model
or resiliency because il provides a vision
o an accessible and dynamic walerronl
lhal also addresses lhe urency o climale
chane and ils eecls.
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view o Walerside Plaza rom Lasl River Park
irds-eye view o lhe Lasl River alon Soulh Slreel
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Horeover, lhe lueway Plan is a model or
civic enaemenl as lhe local communily
played a cenlral role in shapin lhe vision.
1he Lasl River lueway Plan represenls
more lhan a year o public consullalions
wilh sueslions and eedback alhered
rom dozens o slakeholder meelins,
several public workshops, surveys, and
an inleraclive websile.
1his sludy also considered lhe many policy
developmenls, masler plannin inilialives,
and recenlly compleled public and privale
plans lhal have and will shape lhis seclion
o lhe Lasl River walerronl in lhe years
lo come. `vision 2020, published by
lhe New York Cily 0eparlmenl o Cily
Plannin (0CP in 2011, is a principal policy
documenl lhal has provided a oundalion
or lhe lueway Plan. 1he lueway Plan
seeks lo provide a desin vision and more
speciic delail lo lhe uidance provided in
vision 2020. 1he New York Cily Lconomic
0evelopmenl Corporalions (L0C
`1ransormin lhe Lasl River Walerronl
and lhe New York Cily 0eparlmenl o
Parks and Recrealions conslruclion al
Pier 42 are examples o work underway
lhal shaped lhe lueway Plan approach
and will have an immediale impacl on lhe
Lasl River walerronl.
LUEWA PLAN COAL8
1hrouh consideralion o lhese plans and
an exlensive public consullalion process,
lhe ollowin our oals were developed
or lhe lueway Plan:
Enain the River
ldenliy and desin key poinls and
down-lo-lhe-waler siles lo enae
wilh lhe Lasl River rom lhe waler
and rom lhe shore
PIannin for ResiIient Neihborhoods
Creale a lon-lerm, suslainable
vision lhal lakes inlo accounl climale
chane, slormwaler manaemenl,
lechnoloical developmenls,
and evolvin lransporlalion lrends
tmprovin Community Access
Propose improvemenls lo a series
o access roules linkin Lasl Side
communilies lo lhe redesined
Lasl River walerronl
Creatin Waterfront Continuity
Lslablish a nelwork o walerronl siles
connecled by conlinuous bikeways and
walerronl esplanades wilh improved
access lo public lransporlalion
lmplemenlalion o lhe lueway Plan
will require priorilizin capilal pro|ecls,
idenliyin a rane o capilal undin
sources, and oullinin a slraley or
pro|ecl inilialion. 1he lueway Plans
implemenlalion musl address bolh
communily needs and environmenlal
resiliency, wilh undin or lood
proleclion as well as improvemenls in
accessibilily and recrealional amenilies.

LUEWA PLAN PRtORt1 PROJEC18
1he concepl desin hihlihls six priorily
pro|ecls and a rane o advocacy eorls
lhal will lay lhe roundwork or lhe
Lasl River lueway Plan. 1he reporl does
nol priorilize wilhin lhe six pro|ecls as
each pro|ecl will require mulliple aency
approval and lhe idenliicalion o undin
sources. Lach pro|ecl could proceed
simullaneously or in phases based
on relevanl inpul rom slakeholders,
aencies and elecled oicials.
1he six priorily pro|ecls are:

1he Iueway Crossin and FIood arrier p.5
1he lueway Crossin and Flood arrier
addresses lhe `pinch poinl alon lhe
Lasl River Lsplanade, where cyclisls
and pedeslrians are squeezed onlo a
danerously narrow palh, by crealin
a crossin lhal exlends over lhe F0R 0rive
lo allow or a conlinuous esplanade. 1he
ramps connecl lhe neihborhoods norlh
and soulh o Lasl 14lh Slreel and also
acl as crilical lood inraslruclure lo help
prolecl lhe Con Ld power slalion.
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rookIyn ride each p.34

Al lhe soulhern end o lhe lueway,
lhe rooklyn ride each pro|ecl
eslablishes public access lo a nalural
beach benealh lhe hisloric bride.
1he beach creales a speclacular viewin
area, wilh lerraced sealin. Kayaks can
launch rom here lo explore surroundin
walers and a concession sland on lhe
esplanade provides oversihl o lhe area.
EspIanade Freshwater WetIands p.38
Furlher norlh, where lhe F0R 0rive
viaducl overhans lhe river (rom Roberl
F. Waner Sr. Place lo Harkel Slip,
reshwaler wellands are buill oul rom lhe
esplanade bulkhead lo calch and cleanse
slormwaler runo rom lhe F0R 0rive
which currenlly dischares direclly inlo
lhe river. 1he reshwaler wellands pro|ecl
would provide reenery alon a seclion
o lhe esplanade lhal currenlly has no
planlins. l implemenled in con|unclion
wilh educalional sinae, lhe wellands
would also provide a unique educalional
experience, demonslralin how run-o
rom lhe F0R 0rive can be caplured and
nalurally lrealed beore enlerin lhe
Lasl River.
CorIears Hook Park Landscape ride p.4
Corlears Hook ride is a planled bride
lhal seamlessly brins loelher lwo parks
-lhe Corlears Hook Park and lhe Lasl
River Park-and provides visilors wilh
lhe experience o remainin wilhin lhe
park as lhey cross lhe bride. Wilh
lhe amphilhealre on axis wilh lhe new
bride, lhis conneclion creales a
dynamic aleway inlo Lasl River Park.
8tuyvesant Cove oat Launch p.
1he Sluyvesanl Cove oal Launch is a
loalin dock ad|acenl lo Solar Cne: New
York Cilys only all-nalive species park and
irsl sland-alone solar-powered buildin.
0esined lo be lhe irsl phase o a Solar
1wo pier, lhe dock is enineered lo rise
and all wilh lhe lide. 1he boal launch will
provide opporlunilies or New Yorkers lo
explore lhe river wilh kayaks, canoes, and
olher human-powered cral, in a porlion
o lhe river lhal is larely prolecled rom
lidal currenls. y placin a dock al lhis
localion, lhe Hanhallan side o lhe Lasl
River will connecl lo waler lrails wilhin
lhe New York Harbor.
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8kyport Carae Rooftop Activation p.70
1he lueway Plan proposes lo lransorm
lhe roo o lhe Skyporl Carae, localed al
Lasl 23rd Slreel, inlo a arden wilh space
or ood vendors. 1he revenue eneraled
by lhese vendors can help und mainle-
nance o Sluyvesanl Cove. 1he lueway
Plan preserves lhe ma|orily o lhe exislin
slruclure and parkin capacily, bul
requires lhe re-claddin o lhe soulhern
acade wilh a public slairway lo access
lhe roo.
LUEWA PLAN ADVOCAC EFFOR18
ln addilion lo lhe priorily pro|ecls,
lhe lueway Plan sels oul a number
o advocacy eorls lhal will underpin
lhe vision and provide siniicanl
improvemenls lo accessibilily and
lhe environmenl. 1hese chanes can
be achieved by advocalin or lheir
implemenlalion wilh various New York
Cily and New York Slale aencies.
Crossins and Connections
1he F0R 0rive delermines lhe nalure
o accessibilily lo lhe Lasl River
walerronl. Cn Soulh Slreel and service
roads benealh lhe F0R 0rive viaducl,
addilional road crossins and
calmin melhods are recommended,
includin new lraic lihls, bulb-ouls,
crosswalks, and rumble slrips. New
and improved pedeslrian brides
spannin lhe F0R 0rive inlo Lasl
River Park oer new aleways lo lhe
walerronl lhal are A0A-complianl and
can house park amenilies. Proposed
upland bicycle roules lie lhe Lasl River
Creenway inlo lhe larer cily bike
palh nelwork. Finally, lhe lueway Plan
includes sinae lhal direcls people
lo lhe walerronl and provides
inormalion aboul lhe walerronls
hislory and biodiversily.
Creen tnfrastructure
1he upland conneclions lo lhe
walerronl are prime opporlunilies
or bioswales lhal can help manae
slormwaler. Caplurin rainwaler beore
il els inlo lhe combined sewer syslem
is crilical in prevenlin combined
sewer overlow (CSC evenls lhal resull
in sewae dumpin inlo lhe Lasl River.
1he lueway Plan hihlihls olher
opporlunilies, such as slorin
slormwaler undernealh ballields
and caplurin slormwaler dischared
rom lhe F0R 0rive downspouls.
EnvironmentaI tmprovements
1he lueway Plan includes conlinuous
lines o lrees lhal improve waler and
air qualily while shieldin park-oers
rom noise and sun. 1his approach
re-imaines Roberl Hoses oriinal
desin or lhe F0R 0rive (lhen Lasl River
oulevard, which included conlinuous
lines o lrees on bolh sides o lhe road.
1he lueway Plan also provides or a
number o olher slreelscape improve-
menls, such as widened sidewalks on
Soulh Slreel and addilional lihlin
undernealh lhe F0R 0rive viaducl.
Key lo successul implemenlalion o lhe
lueway Plan is eeclive coordinalion
belween New York Cily and New York
Slale aencies. Currenlly, oversihl and
mainlenance o lhe Lasl River walerronl
is ramenled amon several aencies
and, in lhe case o Sluyvesanl Cove Park,
a nol-or-proil roup. 1he case
or a conlinuous lueway requires
oranizalional coherence. 1o lhal end,
lhe crealion o a sinle enlily lhal can
coordinale mainlenance, manaemenl
and developmenl o lhe walerronl
should be considered.
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Sluyvesanl
Cove Park
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Williamsbur ride
L 14lh Slreel
L 38lh Slreel

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Lower Lasl Side
1wo rides
Lasl villae
Sluyvesanl 1own/
Peler Cooper villae
Kips ay
Hurray Hill
Chinalown
1
3outh 3treet
Waterfront Area
2
East River Park
Waterfront Area
3
3tuyvesant Cove
/ Waterside Paza
Waterfront Area
12
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Cove Park
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Williamsbur ride
L 14lh Slreel
L 38lh Slreel

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Lower Lasl Side
1wo rides
Lasl villae
Sluyvesanl 1own/
Peler Cooper villae
Kips ay
Hurray Hill
Chinalown
tN1RODUC1tON
1he Lasl River lueway Plan (lueway Plan is an eorl commissioned by Hanhallan
orouh Presidenl Scoll H. Slriner and New York Slale Assemblymember rian
Kavanah, wilh Hanhallan Communily oard 3, Hanhallan Communily oard , and
lhe Lower Lasl Side Lcoloy Cenler, wilh undin rom lhe New York Slale 0eparlmenl
o Slale 0ivision o Coaslal Resources. 1he lueway Plan aims lo creale a uniied
and suslainable vision or a slrelch o walerronl wilh lhe polenlial lo provide new
recrealional and educalional uses, while improvin slorm resiliency. 1he pro|ecl
parlners commissioned lhe WXY archileclure + urban desin leam lo develop a desin
and plannin ramework lhal achieves lhe ollowin oals:
Enain the River
ldenliy and desin key poinls and down-lo-lhe-waler siles lo enae wilh lhe Lasl
River rom lhe waler and rom lhe shore
PIannin for ResiIient Neihborhoods
Creale a lon-lerm, suslainable vision lhal lakes inlo accounl climale chane,
slormwaler manaemenl, lechnoloical developmenls, and evolvin
lransporlalion lrends
tmprovin Community Access
Propose improvemenls lo a series o access roules linkin Lasl Side communilies lo
lhe redesined Lasl River walerronl
Creatin Waterfront Continuity
Lslablish a nelwork o walerronl siles connecled by conlinuous bikeways and
walerronl esplanades wilh improved access lo public lransporlalion
1he lueway Plan includes concepl desins and uidelines or priorily pro|ecls
as well as key areas lo ocus advocacy eorls. 1he lueway Plan brins loelher
lhe endeavors o many elecled oicials, cily aencies, inslilulions, slakeholder
roups, and communily residenls in order lo uide ulure undin eorls.
1he lueway walerronl, exlendin rom lhe rooklyn ride lo Lasl 38lh Slreel,
includes lhe easlern conines o Hanhallan Communily oard 3 and lhe soulhern
porlion o Hanhallan Communily oard . ln order lo slruclure enaemenl wilh
lhe local communily and lo manae lhe analysis and desin o such a lare area,
lhe lueway sludy area has been divided inlo lhree areas:
1 8outh 8treet Waterfront Area, which exlends rom lhe rooklyn ride overpass
lo Jackson Slreel
2 East River Park Waterfront Area, which encompasses lhe area o Lasl River Park
rom Jackson Slreel lo Lasl 14lh Slreel
3 8tuyvesant Cove / Waterside PIaza Waterfront Area, which exlends rom lhe norlh
end o Lasl River Park lo lhe norlh end o Click Park al Lasl 38lh Slreel
Lach area has unique sile condilions lhal prevenl residenls rom accessin lhe
walerronl, and lhe lueway Plan proposes speciic recommendalions or each access
poinl in need o improvemenl. 1he lueway Plan examines lhese opporlunilies lo
delermine how lhe redesin can meel mulliple oals.
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Workshop lable rom one o six communily meelins
Paes rom lhe Lasl River
lueway Plans websile
(www.easlriverblueway.or
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Solulions wilhin lhese areas were developed aler considerable deliberalion and
consullalion wilh lhe communily. 1he WXY leam developed analysis and desins over
lhe course o a 14-monlh-lon process slarlin in November 2011. 1he sludys lhree
phases were:
Existin Conditions, which examined environmenlal, social and economic condilions
alon lhe walerronl and ad|acenl neihborhoods, includin an hislorical overview o
lhe walerronl
Iueway PIan, which idenliied lhe oals o lhe sludy and analyzed lhe opporlunily
siles or walerronl improvemenls
Iueway Concept Desin, which expanded on lhe lueway Plan and presenled lhe
desin vision or lhe Lasl River walerronl
Lach phase included exlensive slakeholder enaemenl and public consullalion,
includin six public meelins and our Pro|ecl Advisory Commillee (PAC presenlalions.
ln addilion, special one-on-one and small roup meelins were sel up or key cily
aencies, such as New York Cily 0eparlmenl o 1ransporlalion (0C1, New York
Cily 0eparlmenl o Parks and Recrealion (0PR, and lhe New York Cily Lconomic
0evelopmenl Corporalion (L0C. Allendees al lhe public meelins and PAC
presenlalions included elecled represenlalives, represenlalives rom cily aencies,
neihborhood residenls, represenlalives o more lhan 20 local lenanls associalions
and communily roups, more lhan 10 cily-wide environmenlal, lransporlalion and
walerronl slakeholder roups, and inslilulions such as hospilals and ulilily companies.
1o assess communily priorilies and lo encourae onoin parlicipalion wilh cilizens
and slakeholders lhrouhoul lhe enlire plannin and desin process, lhe lueway Plan
used a number o addilional melhods lo alher opinions and solicil eedback. 1hese
included one-on-one inlerviews wilh slakeholders, queslionnaires, and a lueway
websile lhal includes an inleraclive mappin syslem lo alher inormalion aboul lhe
sludy area.
1he websile (www.easlriverblueway.or has been used lo provide inormalion aboul
lhe lueway Plan lhrouh video inlerviews and relevanl arlicles, lo posl proress
reporls, and lo announce upcomin evenls. ln concerl wilh lhe websile, lhe Lasl River
lueway Plan used a number o social media plalorms, such as 1willer, Facebook and
lnslaram, lo boosl communily awareness o and parlicipalion in lhe plannin process.
1he lueway Plan lakes inlo accounl lhe concerns, insihls, and aspiralions lhe
communily has or lhe Lasl River walerronl. 1hese are incorporaled in lhe ollowin
seclions:
Iueway Waterfront Areas, which places lhe walerronl neihborhoods inlo an
hislorical conlexl while describin currenl diversily o lhe sludy area
Protectin the Waterfront, which sels oul how lhe lueway Plan can bein lo address
exlreme wealher evenls, sea level rise and climale chane
Iueway Desin, which describes lhe desin and plannin ramework or lhe lueway
sludy area
Iueprint for the Iueway, which considers lhe implemenlalion o lhe lueway Plan
Appendix, which provides addilional inormalion such as roups who parlicipaled in
lhe public workshops
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Hap o lhe Lower Lasl Side, 177
Lasl River swimmin pool house, 1870
Lillian Wald and Jacob Riis NYCHA housin alon
Lasl River Park, 14
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LUEWA
WA1ERFRON1
AREA8
A common concern amon residenls and
slakeholders is access lo aclivilies al lhe
rivers ede. 1his concern speaks lo lhe
physical challenes o crealin a dynamic
walerronl alon lhis slrelch o lhe Lasl
River. 1he rane o ideas alhered-rom
ishin areas and swimmin beaches,
lo kayak launches and environmenlal
educalion areas-is indicalive o
lhe diversily o populalions in lhese
neihborhoods, yel are all lowards a
common oal. ln order lo creale a plan
lhal values lhese diverse ideas while
respeclin lhe physical challenes, il is
necessary lo undersland how we arrived
al lhe walerronl we know loday.
Ht81OR OF WA1ERFRON1
DEVELOPMEN1
1he physical landscape alon lhe our-
mile lenlh o lhe lueway sludy area has
underone dramalic chane over lhe lasl
several cenluries.
1he Lasl River walerronl was once a
sol nalural ede wilh lare slrelches o
sallwaler marshes leemin wilh animal
and planl lie. However, as ar back as lhe
1820s, lhe prolecled shoreline o lhe Lasl
River lransormed as a hub or lhe asl-
rowin shipbuildin induslry.
Cradually, manuaclurin and lenemenl
housin pushed lhe shippin induslry and
ils auxiliary aclivilies urlher oul in lhe
New York Cily harbor. y lhe early 20lh
cenlury, aclories and railroad yards were
posilioned alon lhe riverronl, rihl
alonside recrealional siles or residenls
o Lower Hanhallan, who came lo swim
in lhe river and lo en|oy lhe riverside
balhhouses.
From lhe lale 1800s lo lhe early 100s,
several balhhouses and river pools ed
direclly by river waler operaled lhrouhoul
Hanhallan. Lvenlually, concerns over river
pollulion led lo lhe decommissionin o
lhe loalin balhs in lhe 130s and lhe
discouraemenl o swimmin in lhe river.
ln addilion, lhe overnmenl bean lo
address danerous and lon-slandin
condilions in overcrowded lenemenls
lhrouhoul lhe cily and in parlicular, lhe
Lower Lasl Side. As a resull o a wave o
`urban renewal prorams, lhe middle
o lhe 20lh cenlury brouhl a near-lolal
reconslruclion o lhe lueway sludy area.
1he urenl social demands or aordable
housin, Roberl Hoses obsession
wilh lransormin walerronl areas inlo
mulli-lane hihways, and lhe desire or
inslilulional uses in lhe area resulled in a
series o ma|or pro|ecls. 1hese included
lhe conslruclion o lare-scale housin
developmenls across lhe easl side o
Hanhallan below 28lh Slreel, lhe crealion
o Lasl River Park and lhe Lasl River
oulevard (lo be renamed lhe F0R 0rive,
lhe developmenl o lhe Uniled Nalions
lnlernalional School, and lhe conlinued
expansion o lhe medical cenlers in
lhe area.

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17
irds-eye view o lhe Soulh Slreel Walerronl Area
irds-eye view o lhe Lasl River Park Walerronl Area
irds-eye view o lhe Sluyvesanl Cove / Walerside Plaza Walerronl Area
18
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tMPAC18 OF Ht81ORtC
DEVELOPMEN1
1he chanes o lhe 20lh cenlury made
lhe Lasl River walerronl increasinly
inaccessible. 1he combinalion o ma|or
housin developmenls, inslilulions, and
inraslruclure erased lhe Hanhallan
slreel rid lhal had once connecled
people direclly lo lhe river. Hosl nolably,
lhe conslruclion o lhe F0R 0rive made
access lo lhe river dependenl on ils
enlrance and exil ramps.
ln addilion, lhe slips and shippin piers
lhal once underpinned a dynamic
workin walerronl on lhe Lasl River
were replaced by a hard bulkhead and
pile oundalions. As a resull, ew easy
opporlunilies exisl or aclually ellin
down lo lhe river.
And yel demand rom lhe currenl
neihborhoods lo use lhe walerronl
is lremendous.
1he Soulh Slreel Walerronl Area loday
remains cullurally dynamic. Wilhin lhe
lueway Plan sile area, il has lhe hihesl
percenlae bolh o people under 18
and over 5 years o ae. As a resull,
concerns aboul access and aclivilies
vary lremendously wilhin lhe area. 1he
youner populalion has expressed a
siniicanl desire or educalional and
recrealional aclivilies, while lhe older
populalion has vocalized a need or
improved access and enhancemenls
such as lihlin and shadin.
1he Lasl River Park Walerronl Area
is deined by a combinalion o public
housin and privale co-ops by lhe park
and lhe hisloric lenemenls o lhe Lasl
villae urlher upland. 1he residenls
in lhis area have placed a hih priorily
on qualily access lo lhe park and lhe
walerronl.
1he Sluyvesanl Cove / Walerside Plaza
Walerronl Area combines a residenlial
neihborhood wilh lare and expandin
hospilals. As a resull, lhe demands or
walerronl access here are nol |usl rom
residenls bul also rom people workin in
lhe area. Horeover, lhe new reliance on
erries has meanl lhal many people now
arrive rom lhe waler al Lasl 34lh Slreel
and require sae slreel crossins and
lransporlalion conneclions lo el lo lheir
inal deslinalions.
1he rebirlh o aclivily alon lhe Lasl River
and lhe desire or walerronl access
provides lhe communily wilh a proound
and hisloric opporlunily lo creale a vision
or lhe varyin needs o lhese lhree areas.
ln crealin lhis plan, communily voices
and aspiralions were lhe drivin orce
behind a dynamic desin process, nol |usl
an alerlhouhl lo larer urban demands
o lhe day.

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`Whelher ils a hurricane or risin sea waler,
as an island, we have lo conslanlly mainlain
an eye oul lo lhe sea. l am very respeclul o
lhe waler. l lhink lhe solenin o lhe edes
is crucial. l we had mainlained lhe eco-
syslem well, lhere mihl nol be lhe kind o
massive erosion caused by slorms. We need
lo o rom hard edes lo sol edes.
WeIIinton Chen, Lxeculive 0ireclor o
Chinalown Parlnership
`l was born aboul lhree blocks rom lhe
Lasl River on James Slreel. 1he impression
we had o lhe Lasl River rowin up was
lhal il was a prelly darin place lo o,
orbiddin. ul we also knew lhal lhe older
uys used lo o swimmin in lhe Lasl River.
And il wasnl considered so danerous lhen.
ul my eneralion |usl avoided il.
Victor Papa, Presidenl and 0ireclor o
1wo rides Neihborhood Council
VOtCE8 OF 1HE LUEWA
`Aler bein amiliar wilh lhe parks on
lhe Upper Wesl Side and Chelsea, my
impression o lhe Lasl River Park }is lhal
ilJ oered only sporls. 1here }areJ no
prorams lhal would include Youlh or
Seniors. 1rue, lhere is lhe }amphilhealreJ
-however l have nol seen any onoin
prorams or evenls promoled since l have
lived in lhe area-more lhan len years...
1he park is a wonderul place lhal could
oer many pro|ecls o cullure, educalion
and quiel places lo crealively work.
Luther 1. 8tubbIefieId, Hember o CCLLS /
member o (and ormer vice Presidenl o
aruch Houses 1enanl Associalion
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`You can see lhe whole hislory o New York
unold alon lhe Lasl River. 1here are slill
places where ils very nalural, you see lhe
induslrial pasl, lhe workin walerronl, a lol
o inraslruclure, lhe roads, lhe hihways,
lhe sewae lrealmenl planls, you see a lol
o old and new residenlial developmenl,
and lhen you see so much o New Yorks
recrealional inraslruclure like rooklyn
ride Park across lhe way, Lasl River Park,
and Sluyvesanl Cove Park. So ils really lhe
ocal poinl or New York. You have Cueens,
Hanhallan, and rooklyn all rihl lhere.
Max JoeI, 0ireclor o lhe Lnery Conneclions
Proram al Solar Cne
`l eel lhe biesl need or lhe river is lo
somehow iure oul how lo improve lhe
combined sewer overlows, lhe CSCs,
because wilh |usl a small hal inch o rain,
lhe wasle rom housin, rom balhrooms,
combines wilh rainwaler and il all lows rihl
oul inlo lhe Lasl River. And lhe capacily is
nol lhere. 1he holdin areas canl hold il all.
So i lhal could be improved lhrouh reen
slreels, lhrouh beller inraslruclure, lhals
lhe main idea ld like lo see.
Joy CarIand, Lxeculive 0ireclor Lmerila o
lhe Sluyvesanl Cove Park Associalion
`ecause o lhe F0R Hihway ils diicull lo
el lo lhe river in some spols. Nol lo
menlion, lhe closesl subway is eihl blocks
rom lhe river. Access, lhals whal ld like lo
see chane. 1hals whal we lry lo do wilh
our ishin clinic. lm leachin people how
lo ish and leachin lhem aboul lhe ecoloy
o lhe river, bul |usl ellin lhem lhere is
a real way lo make people care aboul lhe
river, and seein il as a resource...
Dan 1ainow, Lducalional 0ireclor o
lhe Lower Lasl Side Lcoloy Cenler

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8ource. !he New \orl !lmes,
October 3, 202
Cueens
rooklyn
Slalen lsland
ronx
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Locations and 8everities of
Power Outaes in New ork City
after Hurricane 8andy
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PRO1EC1tNC
1HE
WA1ERFRON1
Hurricane Sandy was a devaslalin blow
lo New York Cily. 1he slorm crippled our
lransporlalion syslem, direclly caused
4 dealhs in lhe cily, and lel New York
wilh economic losses eslimaled al $18
billion. 1he record slorm sure o nearly
14 eel swamped subways and lunnels
and exlended well beyond lhe 100-year
lood plain.
Hurricane Sandy was also a wake-up
call. 1he slorm exposed lhe urenl need
lo implemenl a comprehensive plan lo
prolecl lhe cily rom sea level rise and
ulure slorm evenls relaled lo lhe eecls
o climale chane. Climale scienlisls
predicl an increase in lhe requency
o exlreme slorm evenls, parlicularly
hurricanes, or lhe Norlh American
Allanlic Coasl, alon wilh a rise in sea
level by as much as lwo eel by lhe end
o lhe 21sl cenlury. 1his seclion o lhe
reporl addresses how lhe lueway sludy
area should be considered as parl o a
reional plan or slorm sure proleclion.
1he lueway Plan can become a model
or more resilienl and livable walerronl
communilies.
Cilies musl consider bolh reional
and local scales when conronlin lhe
prospecl o loodin and slorm sures.
Reional aclions are lhose localed urlher
oul in lhe harbor lhan lhe immediale
Lasl River lueway area. 1his includes
lood deense syslems such as lhe 0ella
Works in Rollerdam, Nelherlands, a series
o lideales and levees lhal prolecl lhe
low-lyin cily.
Whelher New York Cily should pursue
lhe conslruclion o a lare-scale
lood barrier is a decision lo be made by
slale, cily and ederal oicials ollowin
addilional debale and sludy. Such a
lare sludy is oulside lhe scope o
lhis plan, however, iven lhe expecled
increase in requency o lhese evenls,
a reional plan should be underlaken
immedialely. Reardless o whal reional
slorm sure proleclion syslems are
ullimalely pursued, lhey need lo be
coupled wilh secondary lood prooin
syslems al reional and local scales. 1he
ralionale behind lhese inveslmenls is lo
bolh prolecl crilical inraslruclure and
vulnerable hih-densily housin, and lo
miliale requenl wealher evenls lhal
cause slormwaler manaemenl issues.
1he lueway sile, which lies wilhin lhe
hihesl risk hurricane evacualion zone
(Zone A and lhe 100-year lood plain,
conlains a siniicanl number o crilical
inraslruclure siles. 1hese include lhe
Con Ld power slalion, ellevue Hospilal
and NYU Hedical Cenler, and public and
privale housin developmenls. 0urin
Sandy, lhe Con Ld acilily al Lasl 14lh
Slreel experienced an explosion lhal lel
much o Lower Hanhallan in lhe dark.
Palienls al bolh ellevue Hospilal and
NYU Hedical Cenler had lo be evacualed
due lo power oulaes caused by loodin.
Nearby public and privale housin
residenls, many o lhem elderly, were
slranded in hih-rise buildins in lhe dark
wilh no waler, power or heal or days.
Clearly, lhis slrelch o walerronl musl
be urlher orliied as a maller o public
saely, and lo prolecl vilal inraslruclure
rom lhe nexl real slorm sure. 1he
lueway Plan presenls a ramework
or inleralin local approaches wilh
neihborhood recrealional and access
needs. ll also lakes lhe view lhal lood
prevenlion measures musl be
mulli-purpose and mulli-dimensional.
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1he lueway Plan combines resilience and
livabilily lhrouh several desin concepls
lhal will be explored in lhe nexl seclion
o lhe reporl. Allhouh some experls
have called or a `manaed relreal lhal
removes buildins near lhe walerronl in
order lo creale an inlermediale zone o
sallwaler marsh, dunes, and olher coaslal
habilal, lhis approach is nol viable in Lower
Hanhallan iven lhe densily o buildins
and exislin inraslruclure alon lhe
waler. lnslead, lhe lueway Plan proposes
slraleies alon lhe walers ede, includin
lhe conslruclion o sallwaler marshes
oulward rom lhe Lasl River bulkhead
ad|acenl lo lhe Soulh Slreel Walerronl
Area and ad|acenl lo Sluyvesanl 1own.
1his welland conslruclion, which could be
inleraled wilh a syslem o seawalls, can
help dissipale wave enery rom slorm
sures as well as reduce lhe amounl o
bulkhead, resullin in realer biodiversily
and habilal in lhe Lasl River. 1he lueway
Plan hihlihls a conceplual desin
or lhe conslrucled marsh. 1he size
and precise localion would need lo be
considered in relalion lo emerin plans
or olher nalural and arliicial syslems
lhrouhoul lhe harbor.
1he lueway Plan also proposes lhal crilical
inraslruclure, such as lhe Con Ld power
slalion, be beller prolecled rom loodin.
Al Lasl 14lh Slreel, lhe lueway Plan envi-
sions a new pedeslrian bride crossin lhe
F0R 0rive lo connecl lhe neihborhoods
and parks norlh and soulh o lhe Con Ld
acilily, simullaneously providin a lon
lood barrier lo prolecl lhe power slalion.
1his mulli-use approach hihlihls how
slorm sure proleclion can also acililale
social needs by really improvin pedeslrian
access and low al whal is now lhe
narrowesl pedeslrian palh or `pinch poinl
in lhe sludy area.
Finally, lhe lueway Plan proposes a layer o
secondary proleclion lhrouh lhe conslruc-
lion o plenliul reen inraslruclure upland
rom lhe walerronl. uildin bioswales and
reen roos will improve lhe Lasl Rivers
waler qualily by reducin CSC evenls lhal
release raw sewae inlo lhe river durin
heavy rainalls.
1he lueways embrace o reen inraslruc-
lure will solen lhe hard ede belween lhe
Lasl River and Hanhallan, providin bolh
a limpse o whal Hanhallan was like 400
years ao and a new sense o whal a 21sl
cenlury urban walerronl can be:
accessible, en|oyable, resilienl, and diverse
in nalural and conslrucled ealures. While
many o lhese pro|ecls would require
siniicanl undin and consullalion wilh
local, slale, and ederal reulalors, lhey are
easible wilh currenl lechnoloy.
Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on New
York, bul il also ives lhe cily an opporlu-
nily lo address climale chane and risin
sea levels in a lhouhlul, holislic way. 1he
lueway Plan is a blueprinl or inleraled
walerronl plannin lhal prolecls lhe cilys
walerronl neihborhoods, while allowin
New Yorkers lo en|oy nalures beauly.
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8ources. e0eslgn 0jnomlcs,
lederol Lmergencj Honogement
4gencj, ond w\\ orchltecture +
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Map of 8torm Protection 8trateies
0
200
500
1000

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Con Ed
East River Park FDR Drive
FDR Drive
Noise/Flood
Barrier
8urround
UtiIity
FIood
arriers
East River
East River
East River Park
Greenway
Noise/Flood
Barrier
East River
Crilical inraslruclure lood proleclion
conEd
ioswaIe
FDR Drive
8urround
UtiIity
FIood
arriers
East River
East River
8outh 8treet
8aIt Marsh
Wave
Attenuation
Sall marsh or wave allenualion
Creen inraslruclure or common evenls
conEd
ioswaIe
FDR Drive
8urround
UtiIity
FIood
arriers
East River
East River
8outh 8treet
8aIt Marsh
Wave
Attenuation
1he Iueway PIan 8torm Protection 8trateies
Conceplual desin o a sea barrier in lhe verrazano
Narrows by ARCA0lS, 2012
1he lueway consullanl leam enaed wilh lhe
0ulch enineerin irm ARCA0lS which has been
responsible or lood plannin in lhe Nelherlands
and in posl-Kalrina New Crleans. 1he New Crleans
syslem was successully lesled in lhe all o 2012 by
Hurricane lsaac, when lhe loodwalls held despile
slorm sure levels lhal were only slihlly lower lhan
lhose experienced durin Kalrina. Al a 2010
workshop, ARCA0lS and olher irms proposed a
lood barrier in lhe verrazano Narrows (see imae
above as one oplion or addressin New York Cily
slorm sures.
0ella Works in Rollerdam, 1he Nelherlands
1here are several examples o lare-scale `holdin
lhe line pro|ecls such as HCSL in venice, llaly and
0ellaworks in Rollerdam, 1he Nelherlands. ln each
o lhese low-lyin cilies, a series o levees and lide
ales were inslalled lo keep slorm sures and
hiher lhan normal lides rom inundalin cilies and
developmenls. A sludy has also been perormed by
lhe SUNY Harine Science Resources cenler or lhe
New York Helropolilan Area explorin lhe
eecliveness o a speciic layoul o lide ales
localed al lhree slraleic poinls around New York
Harbor and 1he Lon lsland Sound.
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27
The Blueway Design section of the report
lays out a vision for each of the three
identified waterfront areas: the South
Street Waterfront Area, the East River
Park Waterfront Area, and the Stuyvesant
Cove / Waterside Plaza Waterfront
Area. This section sets out distinct
design proposals to move forward the
key principles established by the NYC
Department of City Plannings Vision 2020
document to guide the activation of the
citys waterfront.
The following pages describe the design
and advocacy efforts that the Blueway
Plan proposes based on the projects
four goals:
Engaging the River
Identify and design key points and
down-to-the-water sites to engage with
the East River from the water and from
the shore
Planning for Resilient Neighborhoods
Create a long-term, sustainable vision
that takes into account climate
change, stormwater management,
technological developments,
and evolving transportation trends
Improving Community Access
Propose improvements to a series
of access routes linking East Side
communities to the redesigned
East River waterfront
Creating Waterfront Continuity
Establish a network of waterfront sites
BLUEWAY
DESIGN
connected by continuous bikeways and
waterfront esplanades with improved
access to public transportation
In addition to proposing specific capital
projects, the Blueway Plan addresses
shared challenges that unify the
community vision for this section of the
East River. Primary among these are:
building a truly continuous, publicly
accessible, and attractive waterfront
esplanade and bikeway; addressing green
infrastructure (GI) and landscaping; and
improving pathways to the waterfront and
wayfinding systems. To meet the goals
of creating access, design solutions are
needed to reconnect paths and enable
activities to better coexist along the
waterfront throughout the Blueway Plan
study area. The Blueway Plan proposes a
variety of design solutions to the physical
and perceived barriers experienced by
residents and visitors that were identified
in the community workshops. In addition,
the Blueway Plans design solutions
include incremental improvements
that would ease overall congestion and
improve the quality of public space up and
down the East River for those people on
foot or on bicycle.
Community members showed
overwhelming support for initiatives
that would address climate change, as
well as for initiatives that would increase
public awareness of the East Rivers
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water quality. For this site, designing
a sustainable landscape includes the
following tactics:
Restoration of significant bird habitats,
including the former tree-lined East
River Boulevard along the FDR Drive and
increasing the tree canopy at locations
all along the waterfront esplanade
Implementation of green infrastructure
by creating rain gardens on upland sites
Softening of the waters edge by
constructing freshwater wetlands, salt
marshes, and riprap edges in order to
increase aquatic habitat and minimize
wave and water impacts
Resiliency strategies often have multiple
impacts. Landscape initiatives contribute
to environmental benefits that will in the
long term help reduce the heat island
effect, and in the short term improve
air quality and attenuate automobile
and urban noise. Additional shade and
seating areas also have positive social
impacts on the health and well-being of
neighborhood residents. Softened edges,
riverfront, and riprap increase
the potential for recreational uses.
The inclusive planning process
demonstrated community interest in
embedding place-specific knowledge
in the public space and in creating
waterfront continuity. Information about
environmental conditions could be shared
through art, lighting and new approaches to
information signage. The Blueway signage
should work on three levels, including:
Wayfinding signage, which helps guide
people to the waterfront and specific
access points
Continuity signage, which creates a
consistent identity for the Blueway along
the waterfront and helps orient people
using maps that show the extent of the
Blueway, specific destinations, and
important markers
Interpretive signage, which raises
awareness about the areas history and
environmental issues
Illustrated above are examples of signage
elements that could be integrated into
paving and sidewalk edges.
The following subsections of the Blueway
Design provide a combination of
recommended approaches, such as
street crossing improvements and green
infrastructure insertions, and specific
design proposals that have been developed
to create a dynamic and coherent vision
across a long stretch of waterfront that
has been previously addressed in a
piecemeal fashion. The vision for each of
the three waterfront areas utilize the four
Blueway goals to structure the description
of proposed projects and guidelines.
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Historical flood markers in Whites Ferry, Maryland Rendering of wayfinding signage highlighting the flood line of
Hurricane Sandy
29
1
3outh 3treet
Waterfront
Area
1he 3outh 3treet Waterfront Area extends
from the rookyn ridge to Jackson
3treet. It is the southernmost of the
three areas within the study, dominated
by at-grade and overhead roadways and
bridges running aongside the East River
waterfront. Key urban design features
of the 3outh 3treet Waterfront Area
are the rookyn ridge each, and the
new East River Waterfront Espanade
incuding Piers 35 and 42. Pans for Pier
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35 are being impemented by EDC and
Pier 42 is being panned by the community
in partnership with the DPR. 1hese
improvements wi add amenities and
enhance the espanade and bikeway. 1he
chaenges of the 3outh 3treet Waterfront
Area are primariy defined by the current
use of 3outh 3treet as a service road and
truck route, the FDR Drive viaduct, which
ooms over the East River Espanade, and
the vunerabiity of this area to storm
surges. 1he ueway Design sets out a
number of pro|ects that responds to
these issues in order to protect the area
from fooding, to estabish greenery
and biodiversity, to provide better
connections and to create new areas for
waterfront activities.

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Iueway Desin for
the 8outh 8treet Waterfront Area outIines
key projects and uideIines
1
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lueway 0esin
Clher Proposed or
Planned Pro|ecls
ikeway
Hisloric Shoreline
32
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4. 1reat Runoff From

1he FDR Drive 1hrouh
PIantin 8trateies
1his caplures runo
rom lhe F0R 0rive
downspouls in
conslrucled reshwaler
wellands, which
currenlly runs inlo
lhe Lasl River.
5. RebuiId Existin and
Construct AdditionaI
Piers
1his creales lhree
ishin and lookoul piers
and lwo piers (Pier 1,
norlh o lhe Soulh
Slreel Seaporl and al
Pier 35 lhal could be
used as erry landins.
. CompIete 8treets
Proram
1his proram empha-
sizes new slreel lrees
and bioswale bump-ouls
lo improve slormwaler
manaemenl.
7. Construct and rin
ack 8aIt Marshes And
Habitat Restoration
1his incorporales
conslrucled sallwaler
marsh and smaller
inlervenlions like ree
balls.
8. 8afe CrosswaIks At AII
Iocks AIon 8outh
8treet and New ikeway
Connections
1his provides a new
crosswalk and lihl al
Roberl F. Waner Sr.
Place and a bikeway
exlended down Clinlon
Slreel lo lhe Lsplanade.
. 8outh 8treet
uiIdin Frontae
1his widens sidewalks
and slreel lrees and
encouraes new
buildins in lhe lon
lerm lo have enlrances
direclly on Soulh Slreel.
Other Proposed or
PIanned Projects
(10 New bikeway parl o
lhe L0C Lasl River
Walerronl Plan, (11
Rulers Pavilion, L0C
Lasl River Walerronl
Plan, (12 Crossin al
Rulers Slip and Soulh
Sl. lnlerseclion, 0C1
Planned pro|ecl, (13
New raised lable lo
calm lraic exilin lhe
F0R 0rive, (14 lmproved
wayindin rom L.
roadway F lrain, (15
Packae 3 o lhe L0C
Lasl River Walerronl
plan, (1 New Cenler
or Pallialive Care,
Privale pro|ecl, (17 Pier
35 / Lco Park, L0C Lasl
River Walerronl Plan
1. Restore 8horeIine
and Decrease uIkhead
Conditions
1his creales sleps down
lo lhe rooklyn ride
each and a riprap ede
alon lhe beach.
2. Add uffers
1o 8Iow Water 8peed
and Wave Action
1his includes sallwaler
marsh planlers in lhe
area around lhe
rooklyn ride each.
3. Create 8afe Access
and tmprove each Area
For oat Landin and
8wimmin
1he rooklyn ride
each makes kayak
landins and wadin
pools usin illered
river waler publically
accessible, and
provides oversihl o
lhe beach and pools
wilh a lido buildin.
11
12
15
13
1
17
14
33
Renderin o proposed rooklyn ride each
Lxislin rooklyn ride each
ENCACtNC 1HE RtVER
1he impelus or lhe lueway Plan
oriinaled rom a communily desire or
places lo swim and kayak on lhe Lasl
River. 1he Soulh Slreel Walerronl Area
can predicale lhese aclivilies based upon
currenl walerronl uses. Wilh speciic
desin inlervenlions, lhis slrelch o
lhe waler will become a place lo kayak,
louch lhe waler, swim in pools supplied
by illered river waler, ish wilhoul
obslruclin pedeslrians, and learn aboul
marine lie.
1. Restore 8horeIine and Decrease
uIkhead Conditions
lnleresl in human-powered boalin as
well as swimmin in lhe river has rown
in lhe pasl decade. Cn Hanhallans Wesl
Side, New Yorkers increased inleresl
in experiencin lhe cily rom lhe waler
is relecled in lhe rowlh o kayak and
34
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canoe launches al Hudson River and
Riverside Parks. While lhere are eihl
kayak launch siles in Hanhallan alon
lhe Hudson River, only lwo are available
alon lhe Lasl River, neilher o which
are in Hanhallan. 1oday, lhere are ew
possibililies or swimmin near lhe Lasl
River. Hore lhan 4 o lhe areas shoreline
is hard bulkhead and pile oundalion,
crealin barriers lo accessin lhe waler.
rooklyn ride each, lhe only nalurally
occurrin beach alon lhe sile, is in hih
demand rom lhe communily as an access
poinl inlo lhe waler and has similarly been
pinpoinled by lhe boalin communily as a
nalural kayak launch sile. While lhis sandy
area is a permilled kayak landin sile, il is
nol publicly accessible due lo reasonable
concerns around lhe Lasl Rivers slron
currenls and wave aclion, which are al
limes unsae or swimmers and kayakers.
2. Create 8afe Access and tmprove each
Area For oat Landin and 8wimmin
Preservin lhe beach and makin il publicly
accessible as a desinaled landin and
launch sile or human-powered boals, as
well as a place or walkin on sand and
louchin lhe waler requires desinin
ways lo mainlain and supervise lhis
access. 1he concepl desin combines
railin and ales wilh amphilhealre-slyle
sleps rom lhe esplanade lo lhe beach
lhal unclion as bolh sealin and landin
or kayaks. rooklyn ride each oers
lhe opporlunily lo creale a launch sile
wilhoul havin lo build a dock or any olher
complicaled inraslruclure. Challenes and
polenlial heallh risks relale lo lhe proximily
lo a combined sewer overlow (CSC oulall,
a Coasl Cuard securily zone, and an aclive
navialion channel, and washed up debris
impairin sae access.
1he walerronl area ad|acenl lo lhe nalural
beach would beneil rom access lo sae
ouldoor swimmin and wadin. Shallow
wadin pools ulilizin illered river waler
can be places or sunnin, waler play and
educalion aboul waler saely. 1o ensure
lhe aclive manaemenl and supervision
o lhe sile, lhe pro|ecl proposes an urban
beach concession, a lido, under lhe F0R
0rive viaducl ad|acenl lo lhe pools. 1his
aordable amenily or lhe public would
include reslrooms, showers, chanin
areas, lockers, acililies lo renl lowels, and
a place lo buy snacks. 1he lido operalor
would manae access and supervision lo
lhe wadin pools, lhe acililies and beach.
3. Add uffers to 8Iow Water 8peed and
Wave Action
1he Lasl Rivers lides and currenls are o
concern when proposin prorams lhal
promole human aclivily on and in lhe
waler. 0ependin on lhe lime o day or
monlh, wealher, and nearby boal use, lidal
and currenl pallerns vary widely, bul can
be predicled nonelheless. Periods o lower
low, known as slack lides, are relalively
saer lhan peak low. 1hese pallerns can
inorm plannin decisions, idenliyin when
condilions are saer or walerborne aclivily
lo occur. ecause o saely consideralions,
inormalional sinae on currenls and
slack lide pallerns should be provided or
recrealional boalers in con|unclion wilh
makin lhe beach publicly accessible.
Placemenl o sall marsh planlers in lhe
river will reduce lhe wave aclion or
incomin kayakers and be parl o a buer
syslem lo prevenl lare debris rom
reachin lhe beach.
4. RebuiId Existin and Construct
AdditionaI Piers
Communily supporl is slron or brinin
back piers or recrealion and walerborne
lransil. 1hree ishin piers are proposed
belween Roberl F. Waner Sr. Place
and Harkel Slip. Rebuildin Pier 1 and
encourain a erry use al Pier 35 would
allow or lhe lransporlalion o people and
oods by boal in lhe ulure. Fishin is an
imporlanl aclivily in lhe area, allhouh
currenlly many ishermen preer lo do
lheir ishin norlh o Harkel Slip lo avoid
lheir lines ellin cauhl in lhe beams
overhanin lhe F0R 0rive. Crealin piers
soulh o Harkel Slip will acililale ishin
and minimize conlicls belween ishin
aclivilies, |oers and olher pedeslrians
by providin more space or dierenl
uses alon lhe esplanade. Finer piers
can accommodale all lhese uses while
minimizin lheir oolprinl over lhe waler.

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35

PLANNtNC FOR RE8tLtEN1

NEtCHORHOOD8
1he main conlribulors lo conlaminalion
in lhe Lasl River are CSCs and direcl
slormwaler runo rom roadways. 1he
conslruclion phases o lhe 1he Lasl
River Lsplanade pro|ecl may include
suslainable slormwaler manaemenl. 1he
implemenlalion o reen inraslruclure
(Cl syslems wilh lhe primary oal o
minimizin CSC evenls would also
siniicanlly improve waler qualily
alon lhe lueway and incremenlally
alon lhe river. Cl nol only helps lo
manae slormwaler, il also plays a role
in improvin air qualily, enhancin
biodiversily, and beauliyin lhe
environmenl.
5. 1reat Runoff From FDR Drive 1hrouh
PIantin 8trateies
1he F0R 0rive belween lhe rooklyn
ride and Harkel Slip conlains
downspouls lhal dischare direclly
inlo lhe Lasl River lhrouh lhe Lasl
River Lsplanade. Proposed reshwaler
wellands lhal allach lo and exlend lhe
esplanade will caplure and iller lhe F0R
0rives surace runo, lhereby helpin
lo minimize ils impacl on lhe Lasl River
ikeway Soulh Slreel Sidewalk New
1rees
Proposed seclion al F0R 0ownspouls
Widened
Walerronl
Lsplanade
waler qualily. 1he lon-lerm care o lhe
reshwaler welland requires slewardship
and provides an opporlunily or educalin
lhe communily on lhe local and reional
marine ecoloy. 1he welland would also
solen lhe olherwise hard bulkhead ede
by addin planlins. 1his lransormed
bulkhead could become a model or
mulli-unclional ede lrealmenls or
similar areas alon lhe cilys shoreline.
. CompIete 8treets Proram
Creen inraslruclure alon Soulh
Slreel, belween lhe rooklyn ride
and Honlomery Slreel would also
improve Lasl River waler qualily.
Slreel and sidewalk slorm delenlion
and inillralion such as veelaled
bioswales and permeable suraces lied
lo subrade slorae would caplure and
iller slormwaler diverled rom lhe
public rihl-o-way on Soulh Slreel. l
lhe exislin waslewaler inraslruclure
does nol connecl lo a combined sewer,
Cl acililies would priorilize lrealmenl o
polluled surace runo. New uidelines
and oals or waler qualily are proposed
or lhe public rihl-o-way, as sel orlh
in lhe New York Slale 0eparlmenl o
Lnvironmenlal Conservalions (0LC
Slormwaler Hanaemenl 0esin Hanual,
3
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Sall marsh and conslruclion and pier removal al
rooklyn ride Park
New York Cily 0eparlmenl o 0esin and
Conslruclions (00C Hih Perormance
lnraslruclure Cuidelines, and New
York Cily 0eparlmenl o Lnvironmenlal
Proleclions (0LP slorm dischare
requiremenls.
7. Construct 8aIt Marshes and Habitats
Habilal resloralion eorls conlribule lo
lhe recovery o key larel species, which
is a process lhal helps improve river
waler qualily. 0ue lo habilal eliminalion,
over-ishin, and conlaminalion, lare
populalions o marine lie have been
depleled rom lhe Lasl River esluary. 1he
lueway Plan larels lhe walers ede in
supporlin new habilal crealion. Nalive
lo lhe Norlheasl, lhe crealion o sall
marshes rom Roberl F. Waner Sr. Place
lo Pier 35 will increase biodiversily. Sall
marshes are one o lhe mosl bioloically
produclive ecosyslems lhal can be
crealed alon lhe Lasl River shoreline,
lhey are homes lo iller-eedin oyslers
and mussels, eslablish habilal lhal
allracls orain birds, provide breedin
and halchin rounds or ish, and
promole lhe rowlh o slable riverbed
(benlhic communilies lhal exlend well
beyond lhe marsh oolprinl. Sall marshes
also sequesler pollulanls rom lhe
Conslrucled Lco-syslems
Freshwaler welland-
caplures and illers downspoul runo
1idal pool-lare rocks provide habilal
Sall marsh
1idal channel
river, and provide breedin and eedin
rounds or harbor herons, raplors and
miralory birds alon lhe Allanlic Flyway.
lncorporalin a sall marsh alon lhis
slrelch would have lhe added beneil o
dissipalin wave enery rom lhe Lasl
River, lhereby minimizin lhe kind o
damae caused by slorm sures.
ln order lo simulale lhe condilions o
a prolecled cove, a low barrier marsh
is conslrucled and backilled on lhe
landward side lo raise rades lo lhe
proper elevalion or inler-lidal marsh.
1he conslrucled marsh could be
inleraled wilh proposals or seawalls
and olher harbor-wide slorm sure
proleclion slraleies.
ln addilion lo lhe sall marsh, ree balls
placed ad|acenl lo lhe bulkhead alon
lhe bollom o lhe Lasl River soulh o lhe
rooklyn ride each represenl anolher
opporlunily or habilal conslruclion.
Ree balls are small concrele slruclures
lhal are desined wilh varyin sized
holes lo provide hidin places or
small crabs and ish, and have solid
suraces or mussels, oyslers, clams,
barnacles, and veelalion lo allach lo.
1he presence o mussels and oyslers
improves waler qualily and sedimenl
qualily, and enerales addilional habilal
and orain rounds or olher marine
species. Pilol sludies would aid in lhe
evalualion o lhese lechniques lradeos
by lhe 0eparlmenl o Lnvironmenlal
Conservalion. 1his comparison wilh lhe
currenl Lasl River habilal is essenlial or
any chanes proposed in lhe Lasl River.

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37
Lxislin esplanade alon Soulh Slreel undernealh lhe F0R 0rive,
wilh downspouls emplyin inlo lhe Lasl River
tMPROVtNC AND EXPANDtNC
NEtCHORHOOD ACCE88
1he communily workshops and pro|ecl
analysis led lo recommendalions aboul
improvin inlerseclions alon lhe Lasl
River lueway sludy area, where pedeslrian
and cyclisl accidenls and alalilies have
occurred. 1hey reconized lhal in order lo
have an aclive walerronl, improvin lhe
ways people el lhere is imperalive.
1here are parlicular challenes where
pedeslrians and bicyclisls are crossin
undernealh lhe F0R 0rive viaducl. 1he
Soulh Slreel Walerronl Area has our
exislin al-rade access poinls. Cne o lhe
communilies mosl immediale concerns
was sae access lo lhe walerronl. 1his
includes new crosswalks and pedeslrian
sinals al popular inlerseclions, as well as
incorporalin lraic calmin measures lo
slow down lraic, usin Soulh Slreel as an
allernale lo lhe F0R 0rive, and placin
beller wayindin sinae lhrouhoul lhe
area.
8. 8afe CrosswaIks At AII Iocks AIon
8outh 8treet
ecause o ils proximily lo lhe Lasl
roadway subway slalion and lhe planned
Pier 35 Lco Park, lhe Rulers Slip and
Soulh Slreel inlerseclion was idenliied in
communily meelins as a priorily sile or a
new crosswalk and lraic lihl. 0C1 is
plannin a crosswalk and sinal al lhis
inlerseclion. Hore lraic calmin
38
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Renderin o proposed Lasl River Lsplanade
measures such as a raised lable, similar lo
a low and wide speed bump, could slow
down cars speedin down Soulh Slreel.
New neihborhood wayindin can direcl
people rom lhe Lasl roadway subway lo
lhe walerronl.
Clher inlerseclions where new crosswalks
are needed alon Soulh Slreel include
Roberl F. Waner Sr. Place and Clinlon
Slreel. A crosswalk al Roberl F. Waner Sr.
Place would allow residenls rom Alred L.
Smilh houses, which houses approximalely
4,300 residenls, lo easily access lhe
rooklyn ride each and wadin pool.
0ala shows lhal lhe inlerseclion al Roberl
F. Waner Sr. Place has experienced over
eihl accidenls and one alalily rom 15
lo 200. Sae access al lhis inlerseclion
needs lo be ensured lo avoid any ulure
lraedies. A crosswalk al Clinlon Slreel is
proposed where none exisls loday. While
lhis pedeslrian inlerseclion is nol as hih
demand loday as compared lo Rulers Slip
or Roberl F. Waner Sr. Place, lhis will
chane over lime. Clinlon Slreel can
become an imporlanl bicycle conneclion
belween lhe Williamsbur ride bicycle
and pedeslrian access poinl and lhe Soulh
Slreel walerronl. Localed belween Pier
35 and Pier 42, lhis inlerseclion will only
increase in use as lhese piers are
developed or public use in lhe near
ulure. 1o improve lhis link, lhe new
lwo-way bike lane recenlly inslalled on
Clinlon Slreel belween 0elancey Slreel
and Crand Slreel should exlend down lo
lhe walerronl.

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CREA1tNC WA1ERFRON1 CON1tNUt1
While a conlinuous esplanade exisls alon
lhe Lasl River in lhis seclion o lhe lueway
sludy area, lhe Soulh Slreel corridor is
nol allraclive. Wilhoul reular crossins
al each inlerseclion on Soulh Slreel,
people lravellin lo lhe Lasl River musl
walk alon Soulh Slreel or a number
o blocks beore ellin lo a sae crossin.
As a resull, crealin a beller environmenl
alon Soulh Slreel was noled by communily
residenls and is an imporlanl corollary
lo crealin slron walerronl conlinuily.
. 8outh 8treet uiIdin Frontae
Soulh Slreels currenl condilion is
reinorced by heavy lruck use and il bein
a popular allernalive roule lo lhe F0R
0rive. Lon-dislance lour buses park
on Soulh Slreel and creale anolher barrier
lo lhe river. 1he posilionin o lhe exislin

Lnorce
no bus
parkin
Lihlin
ikeway Soulh Slreel Sidewalk New
1rees
and
ioswale
Proposed seclion al Harkel Slip
40
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Fishin and Lookoul Pier ad|acenl lo
Sall Harsh and Riprap
Riprap Sall marsh
Wave allenualion wall-
lop elevalion realer
lhan HHHW
buildins, wilh ew ronl doors openin
onlo Soulh Slreel, and lhe currenl land
uses, dominaled by parkin lols and
lack o relail uses, urlher reinorce
lhe perceplion lhal Soulh Slreel is nol
or people. 1he public realm does lillle
lo encourae pedeslrian use. Narrow
sidewalks, unallraclive lihlin, and lhe
lack o slreel lrees creale unpleasanl
condilions or people.
1ransormin Soulh Slreel which ronls on
lo lhe Lasl River Lsplanade rom a service
road lo a walerronl boulevard is seen as
a lwo-proned slraley. ln lhe lon lerm,
lhe communily review process should
encourae developmenl siles alon Soulh
Slreel lo have a slroner ronl door
presence lo lhe Lasl River, and syslemic
approaches lo make Soulh Slreel less o
a service road. 1he nearer lerm approach
considers slreel crossins (discussed
earlier, melhods or improvin lhe
public realm by widenin lhe sidewalk
and addin slreel lrees and planlin.
Hanaemenl approaches include
charin ines or layovers lo discourae
charler and lour buses rom ormin a
wall o buses alon Soulh Slreel.
Cne o lhe simplesl and mosl eeclive
ways lo creale a sae, conlinuous, and
allraclive walerronl is lo improve lhe
lihlin under lhe F0R 0rive viaducl.
Lihlin lhe underside o F0R 0rive and
approach roads will make lhese areas
more invilin. verlical suraces painled
lo relecl lihl could also help draw
people lo lhe walers ede and make lhe
underpass less orebodin. y providin
lhe appropriale eleclrical inraslruclure,
lhis area also has lhe polenlial or arl
inslallalions and seasonal displays lhal
will add lo lhe areas slreel aclivily.
Widened
Walerronl
Lsplanade

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41
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42

The East River Park Waterfront Area is a
57acre New York City public park that
extends along the East River from Jackson
Street to East 14th Street. Key urban design
features are the large-scale public and
private housing developments, the FDR
Drive and East River Park with its many
features including; playing fields, an
amphitheatre, a promenade, the East River
Greenway as well as the five pedestrian
bridges connecting the community with the
waterfront. The challenges of the East River
Waterfront Area are primarily defined by
the current use of the East River Greenway
as a park road and the limited connections
bridging over the FDR Drive to the water.
The Blueway Design sets out a number of
projects that responds to these issues in
order to protect the area from flooding,
provide a sustainable model for pedestrian
and bicycle access to and from East River
Park and create new activities to facilitate
enjoyment of the natural environment.
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East River Park
Waterfront Area
43
Iueway Desin for
the East River Park Waterfront Area outIines
key projects and uideIines
1
2

7
7 8
lueway 0esin
Clher Proposed or
Planned Pro|ecls
ikeway
Hisloric Shoreline
44
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3
4
9
4. Provide New Vantage
Points and Functionality
for the East 6th Street
Bridge
This expands the bridge
to accommodate many
users, and provides new
opportunities for
experiencing East River
Park.
5. Enhance and Extend
East 10th Street Bridge
to the Water
This widens the already
popular bridge while
incorporating direct
access to the water.
6. Capture Stormwater
in Recreation Field
Detention Basins
This utlitizes the
ballfields large area
and underground space
to minimize sewage
discharge into the East
River.
7. Develop Green
Fingers as Guides to
Waterfront Access
Points
This increases the
attractiveness of the
entryways to East River
Park, while filtering
runoff.
8. Elevate East River
Park Greenway for
Infrastructure and
Mode Separation
This entices park users
to use the inner
pathway, simultaneously
providing space for
infrastructure.
9. Create the Blueway
Crossing to Eliminate
Esplanade Bottlenecks
and Protect Critical
Infrastructure
This provides new, safer
north-south and
east-west linkages,
while incorporating
flood protection.
1. Connecting Two
ParksCorlears Hook
Park and East River Park
This seamlessly
connects Corlears Hook
and East River Parks
with greenery and
plantings, bringing new
users to both parks.
2. Connect the East
River to the Growing
Neighborhood at
Delancey Street
This bridge welcomes
the growing Lower East
Side community into
East River Park.
3. Reduce Pedestrian-
Car Conflicts with
Traffic Calming on the
East Houston Street
Overpass
This extends the street
grid into East River
Park, providing a safe
gateway for pedestrians
and cyclists.
6
6
6
7
7
8
8
45
vancouver Land ride, Washinlon Slale 1he Creen ride in Hile Lnd Park, London, UK
tMPROVtNC COMMUNt1 ACCE88
0urin lhe lueway communily
workshops, area residenls and park users
made clear lhal access lo Lasl River
Park is a lop concern. 1he dislances
belween lhe ive neihborhood access
poinls lo lhe park are subslanlial wilh
conusin and low qualily crossins.
All o lhe overpasses are in need o
siniicanl rehabililalion. Hosl are nol
A0A-complianl and do nol provide
suicienl widlh lo comorlably
accommodale combined bicycle and
pedeslrian crossin. Reconsiderin lhe
desin o lhese access poinls will improve
conneclions lo lhe Lasl River Park and
inlerale exislin aclivily spaces wilh lhe
ad|acenl neihborhoods. 1he redesined
crossins will acl as dynamic aleways
lo lhe Lasl River, and lhey will more
comprehensively link lhe communilies
upland rom lhe F0R 0rive lo lhe
walers ede.
1. Connectin 1wo Parks
CorIears Hook Park and East River Park
Corlears Hook ride is lhe soulhernmosl
pedeslrian bride inlo Lasl River
Park. ll connecls Corlears Hook Park,
localed belween lhe F0R 0rive and
lhe inlerseclion o Cherry and Jackson
Slreels, lo Lasl River Park. While Corlears
Hook Park is almosl hal lhe size o
1ompkins Square Park and in close vicinily
lo residenlial neihborhoods, il is larely
underused. Corlears Hook Park is lucked
away behind lare housin developmenls,
wilh porlions o ils ede acin a parkin
lol. 1he parks lack o visibilily and
wayindin sinae lead lo low level use
o lhe Corlears Hook ride, which lakes
pedeslrians inlo lhe Lasl River Park
amphilhealre.
0espile bein lhe widesl o all lhe
pedeslrian brides inlo Lasl River
Park, Corlears Hook ride has lhe
lowesl pedeslrian usae (based on lhis
sludys pedeslrian counls. 1he lack
o aclivilies and minimal prorammin
al lhe amphilhealre urlher adds lo
lhe eneral nelecl o lhe bride. 1he
2,500-seal amphilhealre, |usl soulh o
lhe Williamsbur ride in Lasl River Park,
sils belween lhe Lasl River and lhe F0R
0rive. 1he amphilhealre underwenl some
resloralion in 0ecember o 2011 aler
allin inlo disrepair in previous decades.
1o aclivale lhis porlion o Lasl River Park,
Corlears Hook Park musl become more
visible rom Crand Slreel, lhe parks
main access road. 1o achieve realer
conneclivily rom Crand Slreel, Corlears
Hook Park would be exlended norlh on
lhe wesl side o lhe F0R 0rive alon lhe
median belween F0R 0rive and ils service
road. 1he easlern ede o Crand Slreel
would be landscaped wilh lrees and
planlins lo uide pedeslrians and cyclisls
4
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inlo lhe park, and provide a visual barrier
lo lhe F0R 0rive.
1he Lasl River Parks amphilhealre is
really underulilized. 1o encourae more
day-lon and year-round prorammin,
slep lihls and inraslruclure or
enhanced evenl lihlin should be
incorporaled inlo lhe amphilhealres
desin. 1he bride provides anolher
opporlunily or dislinclive lihlin lo
illuminale palhs belween lrees and
encourae sae nihllime use.
1he conneclion lo Lasl River Park
al Corlears Hook also presenls an
opporlunily lo re-conceive lhe brides
alon lhe park as hiher perormance
slruclures. Creen roo lechnoloy could
be implemenled lo reduce slormwaler
run-o inlo lhe combined sewers, and
decrease lhe heal island eecl. 1his
emphasis on slormwaler manaemenl
would lie inlo a larer vision or lhe
area bein driven by lhe Lower Lasl Side
Lcoloy Cenlers plans or a conslrucled
welland soulh o lhe amphilhealre.
A veelaled reen bride, like lhose
piclured on lhe previous pae, would
seamlessly blend lhe lwo parks,
lransormin lhe pedeslrian and cyclisl
experience across lhe bride inlo one
conlinuous park. Wilh lhe amphilhealre
lyin on lhe same axis as lhe bride, lhis
conneclion would acl as an imporlanl
aleway inlo lhe park. 0esinaled bicyclisl
roules over lhe bride and on Jackson
Slreel, alon wilh new wayindin sinae
on Crand Slreel, would also conlribule lo
lhe brides role as a prominenl access
poinl lo Lasl River Park.
I
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Crand Sl.
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A
Proposed conlinuous landscaped conneclion belween Corlears Hook and Lasl River Park
(A New slreel lrees, ( New bike lane on Jeerson Sl., (C Permeable pavers, (0 ioswale bump-ouls,
(L New planled ride, (F New amphilhealre prorammin, (C allield slormwaler slorae,
(H Lxlended Corlears Hook Park wilh slreel visibilily, (l Lower Lasl Side Lcoloy Cenler conslrucled
welland, planned, (J 0evelopmenl o Pier 42
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2. Connect the East River to the Crowin
Neihborhood at DeIancey 8treet
Communily members expressed
siniicanl inleresl in improvin 0elancey
Slreel, wesl o Clinlon Slreel, as an
imporlanl pedeslrian conneclion poinl
lo lhe walerronl. 1he easlern end o
0elancey Slreel is currenlly dominaled
by parkin areas, wilh an overpass lo lhe
park lhal is nol A0A-complianl on one
side. ln addilion, lhe overpass abulmenl
slicks oul slihlly over lhe Lasl River
Creenway and was lhe cause o dealh or
one cyclisl who did nol see il and slruck
il while ridin by.
1he planned developmenl o lhe Seward
Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA, a nine
block mixed-used developmenl plan alon
0elancey Slreel, presenls an opporlunily
lo provide a whole new communily wilh
ood access lo lhe walers ede. 0elancey
Slreel is relalively wide lo lhe easl o
Clinlon Slreel, parlicularly alonside lhe
Williamsbur ride, which oers space
or public realm improvemenls lhal would
exlend down lo lhe Lasl River.
lmproved slreelscapes wilh lrees and
plazas would eslablish a more beauliul
and accessible aleway lo lhe walerronl.
1his Lasl River link should include an
A0A-complianl bride near currenl bus
slops, allowin people lo lake public
lransil almosl lo lhe walers ede. 1he
bride would be an exlension o lhe
improved 0elancey slreelscape, wilh
sealin areas and ornamenlal lree
planlers, conneclin 0elancey Slreel
across lhe park road lo lhe Lasl River
Lsplanade.
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Proposed reconceived 0elancey Slreel ride inlo Lasl River Park
(A New slreel lrees, ( New bride rom 12-30 l. wide, (C New reen space al lhe end o crosswalks,
(0 Conneclion lo SPURA developmenl, (L New crosswalk al aruch Pl. lo connecl lo norlh side
o 0elancey, (F New slreel lrees and promenade, (C Sleps lo walerronl promenade, (H Cverlook,
(l New rillin area al 0ance Circle
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3. Reduce Pedestrian-Car ConfIicts with
1raffic CaImin on 1he East Houston
8treet Overpass
1he Lasl Houslon Slreel overpass is one
o lhe mosl imporlanl enlry poinls lo lhe
Lasl River walerronl parks. 1he overpass
is unique or lhe neihborhood in lhal il is
nol a pedeslrian bride, bul an exlension
o lhe slreel rid above lhe park, wilh
ramps exlendin down lo lhe parks level.
1he redesined overpass is envisioned as a
aleway, priorilizin sae reen spaces or
pedeslrians and cyclisls.
1he NYC 0eparlmenl o 1ransporlalion is
in lhe process o inslallin lraic lihls and
pedeslrian sinals al lhis inlerseclion, which
is currenlly very diicull lo cross. ln addilion
lo lhis necessary work, olher lraic calmin
slraleies should be implemenled lo ensure
lhal lraic rom lhe F0R 0rive o-ramp
slows beore reachin lhe Lasl Houslon
Slreel inlerseclion. Lnlarin lhe lraic
island median lo prevenl direcl access
lo lhe F0R 0rive and service road would
help lo calm lraic. 1his lraic island
could be developed as a rain arden and
incorporale commemoralive ealures.
Addilionally, replacin pavemenl al
crossins in lhis area wilh cobbleslone
pavers would slow down cars because o
lhe rouh surace, crealin a saer zone
or pedeslrians. Permeable pavin would
add slormwaler manaemenl beneils.
Finally, a shaded overlook on lhe Lasl
River ballields can be inleraled inlo
lhe crossin. 1his shade slruclure is en-
visioned wilh solar panels, a concession
sland or snacks and public reslrooms
lucked under lhe overlook plalorm.
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Proposed pedeslrianized Lasl Houslon Slreel Cverpass
(A New slreel lrees, ( ike palh, (C Food concession under widened overlook, (0 allield slormwaler
slorae, (L Widened enlry, (F Cobbles, slow down cars wilh rouh surace, creales precincl, (C Shade
slruclure wilh solar panels, (H Slormwaler relenlion, (l Join medians, (J Cars loop around lo access lhe
F0R 0rive Service Road, (K New planlin, (L 1raic lihl and pedeslrian sinal
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ENCACtNC 1HE RtVER
Lasl River Park oers residenls o lhe
Lower Lasl Side and lhe cily a lremendous
array o ballields and courls or aclive
recrealion. 1he parks desin, wilh lare
areas o playin ields surrounded by
encin, and wilh pedeslrian brides lhal
ramp down lhe reenway al lhe ede o
lhe F0R 0rive, makes il very diicull or
visilors lo reach lhe Lasl River Lsplanade.
1he re-desin o lhe pedeslrian brides,
parlicularly al Lasl lh Slreel, Lasl 10lh
Slreel and as described al 0elancey
Slreel, would allow visilors lo have a palh
leadin direclly lo lhe river.
4. Provide New Vantae Points and
FunctionaIity for the East th
8treet ride
Al around six eel wide, lhe currenl
Lasl lh Slreel ride is loo narrow lo
accommodale bolh pedeslrians and
cyclisls. 1he bride has lillle visible
presence on Lasl lh Slreel. 0espile
lhese physical disadvanlaes, dala
collecled al lhis bride suesls lhal il is
a popular access poinl lo Lasl River Park
durin lhe weekends. Relalively hih
usae could be due lo lhe brides close
proximily lo lhe lrack house, a popular
landmark in Lasl River Park.
1o increase lhe brides visibilily rom
Lasl lh Slreel, a new and wider (12-ool
bride should be conslrucled, slarlin
on Lasl lh Slreel and orkin inlo lwo
palhs on lhe easl side o F0R 0rive. 1he
bride is envisioned as lwo inleraled
palhs: one palh descendin lo lhe
reenway, and lhe olher conlinuin as
a lree `canopy walk. 1he descendin
reenway ramp could provide space
or a ca and bike renlal convenienlly
ad|acenl lo lhe exislin lrack house.
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Proposed exlension o lhe Lasl lh Slreel ride inlo lhe Lasl River Park lreelops
(A New slreel lrees, ( Rain ardens, (C 1ree canopy walk, (0 Cverlook and sleps lo walerronl
promenade, (L ioswale bump-ouls, (F visible rom L. lh Sl., (C New bride 12 l. wide, (H Cae and
bike renlal wilh reen roo, (l Solar panels on lrack house roo, (J allield slormwaler slorae
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Renderin o proposed Lasl lh Slreel 1ree Canopy Walk
1ree Canopy, UPenn, Philadelphia, PA
Lxislin view o lreescape al Lasl lh Slreel in
Lasl River Park
1he `canopy walk is inspired by
communily desires lo inlerale more
passive recrealional aclivilies inlo
lhe Lasl River Park, which is currenlly
dominaled by oranized sporls space.
1he lhick lree canopy in lhis area o lhe
park, |usl soulh o lhe ield and lrack, is
slrikin. Wilh such a beauliul array o
malure lrees, lhere is an opporlunily lo
creale an elevaled `canopy walk lhal
snakes lhrouh lhese lrees, oerin
new and unexpecled views o lhe river.
A space or passive recrealion in a park
deined by ils aclive recrealion would
diversiy lhe lypes o aclivily in lhe park.
Al lhe end o lhe canopy walk would
be an overlook lhal |uls oul over lhe
exislin inlel cove, wilh slairs lo access
lhe promenade direclly. 1he canopy walk
seclion o lhe bride could be secured
wilh a ale aler lhe park hour wilhoul
closin o lhe resl o lhe bride.

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5. Enhance and Extend East 10th 8treet
ride to the Water
Similar lo lhe Lasl lh Slreel ride, lhe
Lasl 10lh Slreel ride is hihly aclive
due lo lhe popular aclivilies nearby in lhe
Park. Pedeslrian counls dala alhered
in lhis sludy indicales lhe Lasl 10lh
Slreel ride had lhe hihesl pedeslrian
counls o any bride or crossin durin
lhe sludy period. 1his is nol surprisin
since lhe Lasl 10lh Slreel area is lhe
only park localion wilh a playround and
picnic areas wilh rills and lables. 0urin
communily workshops, il became evidenl
lhal demand or lhese rills is hih.
Crealin a second rillin area wilhin lhe
currenlly underused dance circle belween
0elancey Slreel and Lasl Houslon Slreel
would help alleviale some o lhis demand.
A new, wider pedeslrian bride is needed
iven lhe popularily o lhe Lasl 10lh
Slreel area amon nearby residenls.
1he bride could also inlerale new and
exislin amenilies. For example, inslead
o separale reslrooms and baseball
bleachers, lhe new Lasl 10lh Slreel ride
consolidales lhese unclions as well as
a new ood vendor wilhin lhe bride
slruclure ilsel.
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Lasl 10lh Slreel ride inlo Lasl River Park inleraled wilh amenilies
(A New slreel lrees, ( allield slormwaler slorae, (C leacher sealin,
(0 Concession and reslrooms, (L New bride 12-40 l. wide, (F ioswale
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An example o a bioswale
PLANNtNC FOR RE8tLtEN1
NEtCHORHOOD8
1he reduclion o slormwaler enlerin
lhe combined sewer syslem or lhe
prevenlion o runo direclly inlo lhe
Lasl River will improve lhe waler qualily
o lhe river. 1here are opporlunilies
in lhe approach lo lhe Lasl River Park
and wilhin lhe park ilsel lo address
slormwaler manaemenl.
. Capture 8tormwater in Recreation
FieId Detention asins
Recrealional lur and rass playin ields
are localed lhrouhoul Lasl River Park
and lheir lare oolprinls and permeable
suraces presenl opporlunilies
or siniicanl slormwaler slorae.
Slormwaler manaemenl slraleies
lhal diverl slormwaler rom lhe cilys
combined sewer inlo Cl acililies are a
priorily, parlicularly durin slorm sures
and heavy rains. Slormwaler slorae
chambers and reservoirs undernealh
lhe Lasl River Park ballields would
be desined lo caplure diverled low
rom lhe combined sewer and lhen
slowly release lhe illered waler aler
a slorm evenl. l slormwaler drainae
around lhe ballields is separaled rom
lhe combined sewer, lrealmenl usin
bioswales is necessary beore lhe waler
dischares inlo lhe river.
7. DeveIop "Creen Finers" as Cuides to
Waterfront Access Points
Creen inraslruclure should be
incorporaled alon slreels lhal lead lo
lhe pedeslrian brides in lhe Lasl River
Park Walerronl Area. 1hese slreels
would have realer polenlial lo caplure
and lreal lhe F0R 0rive rainwaler
runo beore il enlers lhe combined
sewer syslem. veelaled bioswales and
bump-ouls spaced al reular inlervals
are eeclive runo illers lhal increase
lhe allracliveness o lhe slreelscape.
1his reen inraslruclure nelwork would
lie inlo exislin parks, areas wilhin lhe
public and privale housin areas, and
communily ardens lo creale a syslem
o reen `iners lo uide users lo
lhe walerronl. Hainlenance and care
o bioswales can reinorce exislin
communily slewardship o reen spaces.

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allield Slormwaler Slorae icycle
Cnly
New
1rees
Pedeslrian
Cnly
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New
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F0R 0rive
Raised reenway or
lood proleclion
allery Park Cily Promenade Alleheny Riverronl Park, Pillsburh, PA
Proposed seclion al Lasl River Park
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allield Slormwaler Slorae lnner
Walkway
Walerronl
Promenade
allield Slormwaler Slorae New
1rees
New
1rees
CREA1tNC WA1ERFRON1 CON1tNUt1
1he Lasl River Park Creenway is a bikeway
/walkway alon lhe Lasl River Park lhal
spans rom Jackson Slreel lo Lasl 14lh
Slreel. 1he reenway is widely used by
|oers, recrealional cyclisls, bicycle
commulers, and people accessin Lasl
River Park. 1he palh ilsel is in crilical
need o allenlion. Polholes, uneven
suraces, and cracks in lhe pavemenl
creale an overall unpleasanl experience.
Poor drainae causes pools o rainwaler.
Proximily lo lhe F0R 0rive creales noise
issues. Service and mainlenance vehicles
occasionally drive on lhe palh, makin lhe
roule danerous al limes. Currenl plans
are underway lo improve lhe qualily o lhe
reenway. 1hese can be expanded in ways
lhal combine various inraslruclural and
loislical needs.
8. EIevate East River Park Creenway for
tnfrastructure and Mode 8eparation
A lon-lerm solulion lo improve lhe
reenway is raisin il above lhe currenl
al-rade level. y doin so, lhe reenway
could supporl inraslruclure enhancemenls
as well as improved experience o lhe
park. 1he reenway could inlerale ulililies
and inraslruclure under lhe palh, more
eeclively drain slormwaler runo (bolh
rom lhe reenway ilsel and lhe F0R
0rive, creale an eeclive slorm sure
barrier or F0R 0rive and ad|acenl
housin, and acl as a noise allenualion
barrier or lhe park. Currenlly, lhere is
very lillle shade alon lhe walers ede
in Lasl River Park. Rows o lrees alon
lhe wide promenade would provide lhis
shade and creale dierenl pedeslrian
zones: a more shaded inner walkway
and an ouler walerronl promenade
wilh plenly o sun. Similar lo lhe allery
Park Cily promenade, lhese zones would
separale pedeslrian lraic wilh dierin
elevalions. Raisin lhe inner walkway |usl
a couple o eel above lhe walerronl
promenade would also oer dislinclive
varialion in views o lhe river.
A new smoolh and even palh would
urlher encourae bicyclisls, especially
commulers, lo use lhe reenway as
opposed lo lhe walerronl esplanade,
makin lhis a much saer environmenl
or pedeslrians. Separalin pedeslrian
and bicycle lraic on lhe reenway
would urlher improve saely. Wayindin
sinae and public maps lhrouhoul lhe
park would acililale easier access lo lhe
park and ils amenilies rom lhe reenway.
Key siles or lhis lype o sinae would
be al lhe enlrances lo lhe park closesl
lo lhe overpasses.

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Renderin o lhe proposed lueway Crossin lookin norlh
views o lhe pinch poinl lookin norlh
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Aerial view renderin o lhe lueway Crossin
. Create the Iueway Crossin to
EIiminate EspIanade ottIenecks and
Protect CriticaI tnfrastructure
A key crossin bollleneck exisls belween
lhe Lasl River Park and Sluyvesanl Cove /
Walerside Plaza Walerronl Areas.
1he Lasl River lueway Plan proposes
lhe conslruclion o a new crossin lo
provide beller conneclions alon lhe
lueway and lo secure vilal New York
Cily inraslruclure.
Al Lasl 14lh Slreel lhe reenway narrows
lo approximalely our eel wide lo
accommodale lhe Con Ld power slalion
acililies and screen house. 1his narrow
widlh is danerous or pedeslrians and
cyclisls lhal share lhe palh, increasin
opporlunilies or collisions. Llevalin lhe
reenway in lhis seclion lo ly over lhe
F0R 0rive presenls lhe mosl easible
solulion lo achieve a palh wide enouh
lo accommodale bolh pedeslrians and
cyclisls. 1he lueway Crossins X-shaped
bride creales bolh a norlh-soulh and an
easl-wesl conneclion. 1he bride is a link
belween lhe Jacob Riis Houses and Lasl
10lh Slreel, lhe Lasl River Park, Hurphy
Park and Avenue C, and Sluyvesanl Cove.
1his elevaled slruclure would also oer
views o lhe waler olherwise blocked by
lhe Con Ld acilily. An elevaled palh
would also minimize pedeslrian and
bicyclisl exposure lo lhe noise o lhe
hihway below.
As Hurricane Sandy illuslraled, lhe
proximily o lhe Con Ld acilily lo lhe
Lasl River presenls a crilical
inraslruclure weakness or lhe cily.
1his vulnerabilily can impacl lhe cilys
power supply wilh lremendous cosl.
1he lueway Crossin could acl as a
lood barrier lo prolecl lhis crilical
inraslruclure.
Concerns aboul lhe securily o lhis
acilily arose in communily workshops
and conversalions wilh Con Ld oicials.
1he lueway Crossin provides a solulion
by usin lhe median o F0R 0rive lo
supporl an elevaled palhway or
pedeslrians and bicycles, separaled rom
lhe cars below. ln addilion lo enhanced
public conneclion lo lhe waler, lhis
overpass slruclure would separale lhe
public rom Con Lds acililies.

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57
irds-eye view o exislin pinch poinl lookin wesl
Llevaled Lsplanade F0R 0rive
Proposed seclion norlh o lhe Con Ld acilily
58
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Rendered irds-eye view o lhe proposed lueway Crossin
Llevaled Lsplanade Sall Harsh and Riprap
Riprap Sall marsh Wave allenualion wall-
lop elevalion realer
lhan HHHW
F0R 0rive

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5
Rendering of the Blueway
Crossing and Flood Barrier,
salt marsh and pools
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The Stuyvesant Cove / Waterside Plaza Waterfront Area
spans from East 14th Street at the southern end to East
38th Street. It is the northernmost of the three areas
and sits entirely within the boundaries of Community
District 6. Its range of uses include hospitals, high-rise
housing developments, schools, marinas, heliports and
a waterfront restaurant. Key urban design features along
the water include Stuyvesant Cove, the Skyport Garage
and Skyport Marina, the United Nations International
School and Waterside Plaza, the East 34th Street Ferry
Terminal, and Glick Park. The challenges of the area are
primarily defined by the limits to continuity of the
bikeway and waterfront esplanade, the hard bulkhead
edge, the FDR Drive viaduct; and the vulnerability of
the area to storm surges. The Blueway Design sets out
a number of projects that responds to these issues in
order to protect the area from flooding, to establish
greenery and biodiversity, to provide better connections
and to create new areas for waterfront destinations.
3
Stuyvesant Cove
/ Waterside Plaza
Waterfront Area
63
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Iueway Desin for the
8tuyvesant Cove / Waterside
PIaza Area outIines
8 key projects and uideIines
Avenue C
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lueway 0esin
Clher Proposed or
Planned Pro|ecls
ikeway
Hisloric Shoreline
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1. Create Areas for oth
Human-Powered and
Historic VesseIs in
8tuyvesant Cove
1his provides a launch
lhal could be
implemenled in lhe
shorl-lerm ulure
by Solar Cne and
reinslalled al a laler
phase by lhe wadin
pools, and a reconi-
ured landin or
hisloric vessels and lhe
Skyporls Seaplane.

2. EnIare Marina to
Create 8pace for PubIic
Access to oatin
FaciIities
1his creales space on
lhe upland side or
pedeslrians and a UNlS
layby while carvin oul
more marina space
oulboard or Skyporl
Carae.

3. 8upport 8afe
8wimmin and oatin
1his incorporales
wadin pools usin
illered river waler,
a lido lo provide
amenilies and oversihl
o lhe pools, boal
slorae and a kayak
landin area.
4. Restorin tntertidaI
8aIt Marsh and Manain
8tormwater With
CompIete 8treets
1his includes
conslrucled sall marsh
wilh walkways in
Sluyvesanl Cove and
upland slormwaler
manaemenl measures
such as slreel lrees,
bioswales and
permeable pavers.
5. Create a Continuous
Waterfront EspIanade
at 1he Marina
Connectin to
Waterside PIaza's
EspIanade
1his is acililaled by a
public walkway
wrappin around
Skyporl Carae, lhe
marina, UNlS and
Walerside Plaza.
. Create a PubIic
Carden and Eatery at
8kyport Carae Roof
1his eslablishes public
access lo lhe Skyporl
Carae wilh new
amenilies on lhe
roolop.
7. New and tmproved
At-Crade Pedestrian
Crossins eneath the
FDR Drive Viaduct
1his oers a series o
new and improved
crossins all alon lhis
area rom below Lasl
20lh Slreel lo Lasl
37lh Slreel.
1
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8. tncrease and
Enhanced Access to
CIick Park
1his enables a bike
roule conneclion, an
improved crossin and
lihlin enhancemenls
in lhe underpass
enlrance lo Click Park.
Other Proposed or
PIanned Projects
( Solar 2, planned, (10
34lh Sl. erry lerminal
improvemenls, onoin,
(11 Planned park al
ormer Con Ld sile
5

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ENCACtNC 1HE RtVER
Sluyvesanl Cove Park is localed belween
Lasl 18lh Slreel and Lasl 23rd Slreel.
A decade ao il was buill rom lhe
round up lhrouh lhe hard work o
many dedicaled communily members
and oranizalions who lransormed a
conlaminaled walerronl sile inlo an
ecoloically responsible public space.
Cherished by lhe communily and
manaed by lhe nonproil oranizalion
Solar Cne, lhis park is a leslamenl lo lhe
communily-driven process lhal reslored
a brownield and developed a slraley
or mainlenance. Localed al a nalural
inlel alon lhe Lasl River, lhe cove
beneils rom slower currenls lhan in
olher parls o lhe sludy area, and
lhe communily has advocaled
or access lo recrealional boalin
and olher waler aclivilies here.
1. Create Areas for oth Human-Powered
and Historic VesseIs in 8tuyvesant Cove
Sluyvesanl Cove has lhe polenlial
lo accommodale a wide variely o
recrealional waler aclivilies on a
reular basis. 1he supporl or onoin
walerronl aclivilies requires crealin
piers and accessible edes and separalin
human-powered boalin rom larer,
non-molorized boals and marina
operalions. 1hese inilialives include a
human-powered boal launch, a boal
house, prolecled river pools wilh an
accompanyin lido, an expanded publicly
accessible beach wilh sleps, a moorin
area or non-molorized public boals,
and a dock or hisloric vessels.

ln Auusl 2012, human-powered boalers
and public waler access advocales
convened al Sluyvesanl Cove or an
alernoon o ree public kayakin. 1he
evenl was a success, drawin a rane o
people, rom novice kayakers lo boalin
enlhusiasls. 1his is paralleled by lhe
slron inleresl in a human-powered boal
launch in lhe near lerm, which could be
localed alonside Solar Cne in lhe shorl-
lerm ulure. 1his launch could polenlially
be shiled or supplemenled by an
addilional pier in a laler phase nearer lhe
wadin pools by lhe rocky oulcroppin.
Plannin a public moorin area or olher
non-molorized vessels is also slronly
supporled. 1his moorin area could be
demarcaled by a permanenl educalional
pier, localed belween Solar 2 lo lhe
soulh and Skyporl Carae lo lhe norlh.
2. EnIare Marina to Create 8pace for
PubIic Access to oatin FaciIities
Localed al Lasl 23rd Slreel, lhe Skyporl
Carae oers an opporlunily or an
Floalin dock in Riverside Park, a polenlial inlerim human-powered boal launch

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Renderin o proposed swimmin area and lido in Sluyvesanl Cove
Lxislin bulkhead al Sluyvesanl Cove
alon lhe lueway would enae people
in mulliple modes o playul waler
aclivilies. A series o prolecled pools
illed wilh illered river waler are well-
suiled or lhe soulhern end o Sluyvesanl
Cove, alon lhe Avenue C slreel axis.
Similar lo previous recommendalions,
lhese pools would also be supporled by
an ad|acenl lido, crealin slewardship
across lhe amenilies. 1he lido would
provide reslrooms, chanin rooms, and
oer a place or people lo buy snacks or
renl a lowel.
improved acilily lhal holds more vessels
and enaes visilors and nearby residenls.
1his would require an expansion o lhe
marina by relocalin lhe exislin seaplane
deplanin area lo lhe soulheasl corner
o lhe arae. 1he new iner pier could
also polenlially be used as a waler erry
slop and or lhe dockin o hisloric
and educalional vessels. Lxpandin lhe
walerronl promenade around lhe marina
area would beneil a variely o uses al
lhe marina, which currenlly suers rom
shallow walers and lack o space.
3. 8upport 8afe 8wimmin and oatin
Communily supporl is slron or
expandin lhe sandy oulcrop resullin
rom lhe buildup o sedimenl around
pilins, or public access, which would
allow people lo louch lhe waler. Similar
lo recommendalions or rooklyn ride
each, lhe oulcrop would be accessed
via sleps desined wilh lhe secondary
unclion o walerronl sealin.
lnleralin a syslem o pools and lidos

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7
PLANNtNC FOR RE8tLtEN1
NEtCHORHOOD8
Several environmenlal challenes
are associaled wilh prorammin al
Sluyvesanl Cove. 1he park is localed
near mulliple CSCs, and sils ad|acenl
lo an aclive navialion channel. Area
subsurace soils have been ound lo
conlain conlaminaled sedimenl rom
a ormer Hanuaclured Cas Planl sile
al Lasl 21sl Slreel, under whal now
conslilules aboul lwo-lhirds o Peler
Cooper villae. Conlaminalion has been
delecled in roundwaler, in Sluyvesanl
Cove Park, and in sedimenls exlendin
500 eel deep inlo lhe riverbed o lhe
Lasl River. However, no conlaminalion
was delecled in lhe surace waler.
Any pro|ecls lhal conlemplale piles
or below-rade work musl consider
lhese indins and coordinale wilh Con
Lxislin riverwalk soulh o Sluyvesanl Cove
Ld and lhe New York Slale 0eparlmenl
o Lnvironmenlal Conservalion. 0ue lo
lhese environmenlal qualily challenes,
aclive manaemenl, sinae, and heallh
risk educalion are essenlial or any public
aclivilies in lhe waler.
4. Restorin tntertidaI 8aIt Marsh and
Creatin CompIete 8treets to HeIp
Manae 8tormwater
1he walers ede alon Sluyvesanl Cove
Park presenls a unique opporlunily.
Hislorically, Sluyvesanl Cove exlended
much urlher inlo lhe island o Hanhallan
and was predominanlly wellands. Crealin
inlerlidal marsh has lhe polenlial lo
improve waler qualily and habilal
condilions, while reducin open waler
zones by only a small amounl. A low
sea barrier would be conslrucled and
illed in lhe space nexl lo lhe shoreline,
8
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raisin rades lo lhe proper inler-lidal
marsh elevalion. When desined and
conslrucled correclly, decomposed sall
marsh cordrass (Sparlina allernilora
provides a habilal and ood source or a
myriad o oranisms: amphipods, crabs,
snails, shellish and small ish. 1hese
oranisms supporl a broad ood chain lo
eslablish a revived ecosyslem.
A series o walkways lhrouh lhis cove
environmenl would accommodale
pedeslrians and cyclisls. 1he sall marsh
in con|unclion wilh appropriale academic
sinae or proramin would provide
opporlunilies lo educale lhe public
aboul local ecoloy and marine lie. 1hese
walkways would replace lhe currenl
esplanade lhal sils alop pilins belween
Lasl 14lh Slreel and Sluyvesanl Cove. 1he
ede would be lransormed wilh riprap
ede lo solen lhe currenl hard bulkhead.
Renderin o proposed riverwalk soulh o Sluyvesanl Cove
1he currenl esplanade coniuralion
suers rom issues o noise conlrol.
Posilionin lhe sall marsh walkways
arlher inlo lhe waler increases lhe
buer belween pedeslrians and lhe
noisy hihway. 1he esplanade should
include mulliple palhs lo separale
pedeslrians and cyclisls. 1he innermosl
palh (closesl lo lhe F0R 0rive could be
lhe palh or cyclisls, while lhe loner
palhs, meanderin inlo lhe marshes,
would be lhe slow palhs or pedeslrians.
ln addilion, lhe lueway 0esin
conlinues lo emphasize `Complele
Slreels desin lhal sels oul uidance
or slreel lrees and bioswales lo help
improve slormwaler manaemenl.

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CREA1tNC WA1ERFRON1 CON1tNUt1

1he Sluyvesanl Cove / Walerside Plaza
Walerronl Area combines lremendous
opporlunilies or public aclivily wilh chal-
lenes lo lhe conlinuily o lhe walkway/
bikeway alon lhe walerronl belween
service roads, parkin and buildin edes.
Sluyvesanl Cove Park, anchored by Solar
Cne, has lhe polenlial lo blossom as a new
public space ocused on environmenlal
educalion and recrealion. As usae alon
lhe walerronl increases, lhe areas urlher
norlh o Sluyvesanl Cove will require careul
slraleies lhal help lhe esplanade and bike
palh users lo naviale lheir ways amidsl
lhe many olher demands in lhe area.
5. Create a Continuous Waterfront
EspIanade at the Marina Connectin to
Waterside PIaza's EspIanade
Norlh o Sluyvesanl Cove, al Lasl 23rd
Slreel, lhe dedicaled bike lane abruplly
ends, orcin cyclisls inlo lhe road wilh
buses and cars. 1he lwo separale service
roads ad|acenl lo Walerside Plaza on Lasl
irds-eye view o exislin Skyporl marina
Renderin o proposed Skyporl marina and piers
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25lh Slreel make il diicull or bicyclisls
lo undersland where lo o. Clear sinae
and lhe crealion o a dedicaled bicycle
lane are currenlly bein lesled and should
be exlended alon 1he Waler Club
Reslauranl, lhe 34lh Slreel Heliporl,
and lhe NYU Hedical Cenler parkin lol.
1he walerronl esplanade is disconlinuous
and conusin norlh o Sluyvesanl Cove.
Conlinuous access lo lhe walers ede
is a priorily lo creale a cohesive lueway.
Walerside Plaza, a housin developmenl
ad|acenl lo lhe river, has a semi-public
esplanade alon ils ede and lhe UN
lnlernalional School (UNlS, which
is soulh o Walerside Plaza, does nol
provide public access alon ils walerronl
ede. As a resull, access lo lhe Walerside
Plaza esplanade requires walkin alon a
service road belween UNlS and Walerside
Plaza or an allernale roule rom lhe
norlhern end.
A new walerronl promenade can be
crealed by expandin lhe widlh o lhe
esplanade rom lhe end o Sluyvesanl
Cove lo UNlS and wrappin il around lhe
Skyporl Carae alon lhe way. Under lhis
scenario space alon lhe walerronl
would be exchaned or a much needed,
desinaled drop-o/pick-up zone or
lhe school. 1he ullimale oal is lo
creale conlinuous walerronl access,
conlinuin around UNlS and conneclin
lo lhe Walerside Plaza esplanade.
1hese proposals would require urlher
discussion wilh UNlS and Walerside Plaza.
. Create a PubIic Carden and Cafe at
8kyport Carae Roof
Addin new walerronl deslinalions
wilhin lhe Sluyvesanl Cove Area enhances
access lo lhe waler and makin lhe rivers
ede allraclive and lively. A public space
or a roo lop arden al lhe Skyporl
Carae, could conlribule revenue lowards
lhe mainlenance o Sluyvesanl Cove.
Skyporl Carae in lhe near lerm could
preserve lhe ma|orily o lhe exislin
slruclure and parkin capacily,
polenlially improvin lhe exlerior,
addin a public slaircase and elevalor
or access lo lhe roo.
tMPROVtNC AND EXPANDtNC
COMMUNt1 ACCE88
7. New and tmproved At-Crade Pedestrian
Crossins eneath the FDR Drive Viaduct
lmprovin communily access in lhe area is
as much aboul saely as access, wilh crash
dala indicalin lhal many o lhe lueways
mosl danerous crossins are alon lhis
slrelch, mosl nolably al lhe inlerseclion
o Lasl 34lh Slreel and lhe F0R 0rive.
Crossin lo lhe walerronl here, where
lhe F0R 0rive is raised, means lhal mosl
crossins are al slreel level and would
beneil rom speciic desin inlervenlions.
Lihlin under lhe viaducl would make
lhe spaces more welcomin. 1he crossin
o lhe F0R 0rive and Avenue C could be
improved by removin lhe ence lhal
currenlly block views o lhe park, inslallin
bike-speciic sinals lo avoid pedeslrian
and bicyclisl conlicls, and addin
pedeslrian sinals al lhe norlhbound F0R
0rive exil lane crossin below lhe F0R
0rive viaducl. Lxlendin and widenin
lhe exislin medians alon norlhern
crosswalks al bolh Avenue C and Lasl 23rd
Slreel inlerseclions would increase saely
by providin pedeslrian reue areas.
8. tncrease and Enhanced Access to
CIick Park
olh access poinls lo Click Park require
allenlion. Wilh lhe erry lerminal, lhe
Lasl 37lh Slreel crossin al lhe F0R
0rive Service Road, Click Parks soulhern
enlrance should be more visible. Proposed
improvemenls include an elevaled
shoulder or bulb-oul ad|acenl lo lhe F0R
0rive ramp slruclure, providin slreel-
crossin proleclion or pedeslrians and
bicyclisls. Prominenl wayindin sinae
would increase lhe conneclions lo lhe
walerronl. Lxcilin and allraclive lihlin
and saely mirrors in lhe underpass would
make lhis crossin saer and a lrue porlal
lo lhe Lasl River. 1his area would also be
an appealin sile or public arl prorams.
Laslly, because lhe reenway ends al Lasl
38lh Slreel, a clear redireclion o bicycle
lraic al lhis inlerseclion is needed lo
improve saely.

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Crand 3t.
Deancey 3t.
E. Houston 3t.
E. th 3t.
E. 10th 3t.
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E. 20th 3t.
E. 34th 3t.
E. 35th 3t.
E. 3th 3t.
E. 37th 3t.
E. 23rd 3t.
E. 25th 3t.
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LUEPRtN1
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Create a raised shouder or bub-out, for pedestrians,
add ighting to the Cick Park underpass entrance
Add traffic ight, crosswak, and signa, insta traffic
caming features
Add crosswak and signa on south side of intersection
Add crosswak, signa, and median on the south side
intersection of E. 34th 3t.
Improve ighting, widen northern median
to accommodate pedestrians
Lighting under FDR Drive viaduct from E. 18th 3t. to E. 23rd 3t.
East River Park bafied stormwater storage
Provide traffic caming features such as rumbe strips
Existing Pubic Park
Existing Con Ed Faciity
Existing or Panned At-Crade Crossing
Existing Pedestrian ridge
New/Improved At-Crade Crossing
New/Improved Pedestrian ridge
Lighting Under FDR Drive viaduct
Creen Infrastructure
3at Harsh for Wave Attenuation
afied 3tormwater 3torage
New 3treet 1rees
Existing Features
Advocacy Efforts
Add traffic ight, add crosswak and pedestrian signa,
provide traffic caming features such raised tabes,
add two-way bike ane on Cinton 3t. from Crand 3t.
to the waterfront
Lighting under FDR Drive viaduct from the rookyn
ridge to Hontgomery 3t.
Add traffic ight, add crosswak and pedestrian signa
Remove fence, insta bike signas, add pedestrian
signa at the northbound FDR Drive exit ane crossing,
extend existing median at northern crosswak
Lighting under FDR Drive viaduct from E. 30th 3t. to E. 37th 3t.
8kyport Carae Rooftop Activation
8tuyvesant Cove Human-Powered
oat Launch
1he Iueway Crossin
CorIears Hook Park Landscape ride
EspIanade Freshwater WetIand
rookIyn ride each
Fundin Opportunity Projects:
lhe clienl leam would seek
public unds, can be implemenled
wilhin lhe shorl-lerm
Advocacy Efforts:
lo be buill inlo cily aency
annual budels

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1he priorily pro|ecls idenliied below are slronly supporled by local oranizalions
and can leverae inancin rom bolh privale and public sources lo increase walerronl
access, achieve environmenlal oals, and provide lon-lerm beneils lhal ar exceed
lhe up-ronl cosls. As discussed in previous seclions, lhese pro|ecls can reduce lhe
inancial impacls o siniicanl slorms and have lhe polenlial lo reduce lon-lerm
mainlenance cosls. 1his seclion lays oul each priorily pro|ecl, polenlial inancin
slraleies, and nexl sleps or implemenlalion, includin lon-lerm oals as well as
shorl-lerm slraleies and inilial consideralions or onoin operalions and
mainlenance needs.
FUNDtNC FOR WA1ERFRON18 AND PARK8
Urban walerronls and parks lransorm neihborhoods and enerale economic beneils
lo lheir nearby communilies. 1hese spaces:
Provide valuable public prorammin
Lslablish a civic idenlily and communicale lhe characler o urban neihborhoods
Creale musl-see deslinalions increasin lourism and eneralin relail and hospilalily
spendin
Lnhance a neihborhoods `brand or idenlily, increasin properly values, relail
sales, and employmenl
Serve as reen inraslruclure keepin walerways clean
Creal ideas supporled by real desins-like lhose envisioned by lhe communily or
lhe Lasl River lueway-paired wilh popular and inslilulional supporl, have siniicanl
capacily lo allracl capilal unds rom local, slale, and ederal overnmenls. Furlher,
inveslmenl rom local inslilulions and businesses inleresled in playin a role in lhe
lueway experience may also supporl capilal needs. Similarly, sinalure pro|ecls like
lhe lueway are ripe or inveslmenls rom individuals, oundalions, and nol-or-proil
oranizalions.
CON8tDERA1tON8 FOR OPERA1tON8 AND MAtN1ENANCE
Similar lo capilal expenses, operalin expenses and mainlenance cosls or lhe
pro|ecls oullined below will require a combinalion o public and privale undin.
While operalions and mainlenance will conlinue lo rely on currenl public unds
dedicaled lo mainlainin lhe exislin reenway alon lhe Lasl River, lhe proposed
enhancemenls will necessilale addilional undin or lhis same purpose. Hany
parks lhrouhoul lhe cily already receive considerable undin or operalions and
mainlenance lhrouh philanlhropy and corporale sponsorship, lhe Lasl River lueway
should be no dierenl. ln addilion, lhe redevelopmenl o lhe lueway ilsel provides
opporlunilies or new revenue slreams, which are described below. Concessions
(reslauranl/olher ood and beverae, relail, paid parkin, and evenl or aclivily
renlals are examples o ways in which each o lhe priorily capilal pro|ecls can help
und, operale, and mainlain lhemselves.
ln lhe ulure, as lhe lueway conlinues lo eslablish ilsel as a local and reional
deslinalion, lhe lueway Plan envisions increased reconilion rom New York Cily
aencies, parlicularly in lhe orm o increased or dedicaled slain. For inslance,
lhe 0eparlmenl o Parks and Recrealion could appoinl a lueway or Lasl River
Adminislralor who ocuses on lhe enlire sile area, providin an in-house champion
or lhe conlinued renewal and revilalizalion o lhis sinular resource.
74
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1he Iueway Crossin and FIood arrier
1he lueway Crossin is an elevaled reenway lhal spans lhe F0R 0rive near Con Lds
acililies al Lasl 14lh Slreel. 1he Crossin will solve lhe pinch-poinl issue, and acl as a
lood barrier or Con Lds acililies. lnveslmenl in lhis inraslruclure will creale realer
access lo Lasl River Park while ils supporl slruclures help lo miliale lhe impacls o
ulure loods.
Advocales or lhe pro|ecl mihl include pedeslrians, runners, and cyclisls who sland lo
beneil rom access improvemenls, as well as Con Ld, lhe beneiciary o hardened
lood proleclion. y orliyin crilical cily inraslruclure, lhe Crossin would also serve
lo meel posl-Sandy resilience ob|eclives.
1he lueway Crossin can leverae oulside undin sources lo supporl capilal cosls,
bolh rom public sources ocused on inraslruclure improvemenl, pedeslrian
accessibilily and walerronl proleclion, and rom nol-or-proil advocacy roups.
Local, slale, and nalional undin opporlunilies should be pursued. Public seclor
prorams include New York Cilys Creen lnraslruclure Cranls, lhe New York Slale
0eparlmenl o Slale Lnvironmenlal Proleclion Fund, New York Slales Lmpire Slale
Lconomic 0evelopmenl Fund, lhe U.S. 0eparlmenl o 1ransporlalions 1ransporlalion
Lnhancemenl Proram, and prorams rom lhe Lnvironmenlal Proleclion Aency.
Numerous exislin prorams supporl enhancin walkabilily and cyclin, as well as
providin environmenlal improvemenls. lnraslruclure unds dedicaled lo improvin
slorm sure and loodin resilience developed posl-Sandy mihl also be leveraed.
1he nexl sleps or movin lhis pro|ecl orward include meelins wilh area advocales
and slakeholders, includin conlinued discussion wilh Con Ld lo review how lhe pro|ecl
would provide crilical proleclion or ils acililies. Provided lhe pro|ecl meels Con Lds
securily concerns, lhe pro|ecl would lhen need lo advance lo review by cily aencies.
rookIyn ride each
Al lhe soulhern end o lhe lueway, lhe rooklyn ride each pro|ecl eslablishes
public access lo a nalural beach benealh lhe hisloric span. 1he beach will oer a
speclacular viewin area, wilh lerraced sealin envisioned benealh lhe landmark
bride. Kayaks will be available lo explore surroundin walers and a concession sland
on lhe esplanade will enliven and aclivale lhe area.
1his sile sils al a pivolal |unclure belween lhe developed seclions o lhe esplanade in
heavily-commercial Lower Hanhallan and lhe residenlial communilies o lhe Lower
Lasl Side. Wilh lhe appropriale lrealmenl and desin, lhe rooklyn ride each will
encourae and draw pedeslrians and bicyclisls lo explore urlher norlh beyond Soulh
Slreel Seaporl. rooklyn ride each can become a speclacular deslinalion, and al
lhe same lime, an imporlanl recrealional amenily lo nearby residenls.
1he cily has previously unded pro|ecls benealh lhe rooklyn ride, such as lhe New
York Cily Waleralls pro|ecl in 2008, and lhe annual New York Cily Swim evenl across
lhe Lasl River lhal currenlly deparls rom rooklyn ride each. 1he sile would be an
ideal candidale or L0Cs llluminale Lower Hanhallan Proram, which is an inilialive
developed lo increase Lower Hanhallans exposure, expand ils appeal and spur more
diverse business aclivily by crealin a landmark or lhe neihborhood. Advocales,
aencies and elecled oicials seekin lo realize lhe beach should conlinue lo pursue
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cily unds or lhis area lo enable proper public access lo lhe beach and lo lurn il inlo a
permanenl deslinalion. 1he pro|ecl also has lhe polenlial or on-sile income
eneralion lhrouh a concession sland(s, which will add lo lhe vibranl almosphere al
lhe beach.
EspIanade Freshwater WetIands
Furlher norlh, where lhe F0R 0rive viaducl overhans lhe river (rom Roberl F. Waner
Sr. Place lo Harkel Slip, lhe lueway Plan envisions lhe conslruclion o reshwaler
wellands. uill oul rom lhe esplanade bulkhead, reshwaler wellands will calch and
cleanse slormwaler runo, which currenlly dischares rom lhe F0R 0rive direclly inlo
lhe river.
1he reshwaler wellands pro|ecl would provide reenery alon a seclion o lhe
esplanade lhal currenlly has no planlins. l implemenled in con|unclion wilh
educalional sinae previously discussed, lhe wellands would also provide a unique
educalional experience, demonslralin how run-o rom lhe F0R 0rive can be
caplured and nalurally lrealed beore enlerin lhe Lasl River. Fundin lhrouh New
York Cilys Creen lnraslruclure Cranl proram and lhe New York Slale 0eparlmenl o
Slale Lnvironmenlal Proleclion Fund may be appropriale.
ecause lhe F0R 0rive viaducl overhans lhe Lasl River alon lhis slrelch o lhe
esplanade, lhe wellands slruclure would nol creale much addilional shadowin o lhe
river, lhereby reducin reulalory concerns rom aencies such as lhe NYS 0eparlmenl
o Lnvironmenlal Conservalion.
CorIears Hook Park Landscape ride
Corlears Hook ride is a planled bride lhal seamlessly brins loelher lwo parks-
Corlears Hook Park and Lasl River Park-and provides visilors wilh lhe experience o
remainin wilhin conlinuous parkland as lhey cross lhe bride. 1he exislin Corlears
Hook ride has lhe lowesl pedeslrian usae, despile bein lhe widesl o all lhe
pedeslrian brides inlo Lasl River Park. 1his lack o usae is parlly due lo ils poor
visibilily and a lack o wayindin lo lhe crossin.
1here is an opporlunily lo re-conceive lhe crossin as a dramalic new aleway lo
Lasl River Park lhal is on axis lo lhe amphilhealre. 1oday, planled brides are in place
around lhe world, rom urban brides such as Hile Lnd Park ride in London lo
planled crossin brides over hihways or wildlie in rural areas. 1he success o lhese
bride pro|ecls demonslrales lhe easibilily o conslruclin and mainlainin
a planled bride. Wilh New York Cilys emphasis on reen roos, lhe crealion o
a hihly visible `reen bride would be an imporlanl addilion lo lhe cilys ecoloical
inraslruclure landscape.
1he lueway Plans lon-lerm vision or lhe bride is one lhal would make lhe slruclure
more suslainable and less expensive lo mainlain. 1he brides exislin slruclure will be
mainlained, while ils deck will be replaced wilh planlins. 1o make il a lruly pedeslrian
experience, vehicles would conlinue lo be prohibiled rom usin lhe bride.
1he crilical source o undin or lhis pro|ecl would be lhe NYC 0eparlmenl o
1ransporlalion, which has a bride mainlenance and replacemenl proram.
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8tuyvesant Cove oat Launch
A human-powered boal launch inlroduces recrealional boalin lo Sluyvesanl Cove
on a loalin dock lo be inslalled ad|acenl lo Solar Cnes acililies. 1he pro|ecl has
local supporl rom lhe communily, Helropolilan Walerronl Alliance (HWA, L0C, and
Solar Cne.
1he human-powered boal launch pro|ecl is a low-budel capilal pro|ecl lhal promoles
access lo lhe walerronl and requires limiled unds or onoin mainlenance.
1he lueway Plan envisions manaemenl o lhe acilily by parlnerin oranizalions.
ln addilion lo leverain public and privale undin sources or capilal cosls, lhe
pro|ecl has lhe lon-lerm polenlial or some on-sile income eneralion, should lhe
boal launch provide an opporlunily or boal renlals. Fundraisin eorls may be driven
by oranizalions inleresled in manain lhe sile in pursuil o cily, slale and ederal
ranls and/or privale unds.
1he nexl sleps or lhis pro|ecl would be lo work wilh HWA lo conirm manaemenl
capacily wilh Solar Cne and human-powered boalin roups, and lo secure capilal
inancin, and work wilh L0C lo ensure sae access lo lhe walerronl lhal does nol
inlerere wilh exislin boalin roules.
8kyport Carae Rooftop Activation
Skyporl Carae is a our-slory, paid-parkin acilily on lhe walerronl al Sluyvesanl
Cove owned by New York Cily and manaed by L0C. 1he lueway Plan calls or aclivalin
lhe araes roolop wilh a limiled-service dinin or evenl venue, and public access lo
lhe walerronl on lhis semenl o lhe Lasl River where none currenlly exisls.
1he pro|ecl promoles conneclivily lo lhe walerronl by increasin opporlunilies or
aclivilies and evenls in lhe area wilhoul requirin siniicanl addilional capilal unds.
ln addilion, lhe pro|ecl could be sel-undin and/or a revenue eneralor.
L0C will be solicilin requesls or a new operalor or lhe arae in lhe near ulure, and
lhe solicilalion should be consislenl wilh lhe lueway Plans recommendalion o
incorporalin a dinin/evenl space on lhe Skyporl Carae roo. ln lhe loner lerm, lhis
sile will provide an opporlunily or ulure redevelopmenl iven ils accessibilily and ils
proximily lo exislin walerronl mulliamily residenlial buildins. Calalyzin
redevelopmenl in lhe area may provide addilional resources which can be used or
onoin operalions and mainlenance cosls in Sluyvesanl Cove or elsewhere in lhe park.
CONCLU8tON
1he priorily pro|ecls represenl six pro|ecls dislribuled across lhe enlire lueway sile
area, which include shorl- and lon-lerm, small-scale and ambilious proposals. 1hese
pro|ecls address all our oals in lerms o allowin people lo enae wilh lhe river,
plan or resiliency, and improve bolh access lo and conlinuily alon lhe Lasl River.
1he Hanhallan walerronl has been lransormed enormously over lhe pasl 15 years
lhrouh a combinalion o public and privale eorls. 1his slrelch o lhe Lasl River is
one o lhe lasl remainin areas in need o a comprehensive vision and a plan or
implemenlalion lhal will make il an accessible, vibranl and resilienl walerronl or
nearby residenls and people rom across lhe cily.
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tMACE CREDt18
Renderin o new ishin piers and sall marshes lookin wesl
rom lhe Hanhallan ride.
Allered Flickr imae. Whilaker, Ld. rooklyn ride. Available
rom: Flickr. JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/
edwhilaker/340032330/sizes/l/ (accessed November 1, 2012.
Pae
177 Hap o lhe Lower Lasl Side.
A plan o lhe cily and environs o New York in Norlh America. JPC
0iilal lmae, hllp://maps.bpl.or/delails1413/ (accessed
January 11, 2012. Pae 1
Lasl River swimmin pool house, 1870.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://blo.nyhislory.or/wp-conlenl/
uploads/2011/08/nyhspr0205balhhouse-300.|p (accessed
January 5, 2012. Pae 1
NYCHA housin alon Lasl River Park.
Jacob Riis Pro|ecls. JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://lheaeonepolism.
com/2010/04/roberl-moses-and-lhe-rise-o-new-york-parl-2/
(accessed November 11, 2012. Pae 1
video slills rom inlerviews.
Lwald, Sarah. Pae 20, 21
Floodin al Sluyvesanl Cove aler Hurricane lrene.
CLeary, Harianne. Sluyvesanl Cove loodin rom Lasl River
sure. JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/
marianneoleary/0884747/ (accessed 0ecember 5, 2011.
Pae 25
Floodin on lhe F0R 0rive aler Hurricane Sandy.
Shankbone, 0avid. Hurricane Sandy NYP0 F0R Flood 2012. JPC
0iilal lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/shank-
bone/813702/ (accessed 0ecember 21, 2011. Pae 25
Conceplual desin o a sea barrier in lhe verrazano Narrows by
ARCA0lS.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.ryol.or/scienlisls-sea-barrier-
could-have-slopped-sure-in-nyc/ (accessed November 1,
2012. Pae 27
0ellaworks in 1he Nelherlands.
vlveen, JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/
vlveen/8330422488/ (accessed January 3, 2013. Pae 27
Previous Flood Lines Waler Harks al Whiles Ferry.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.mymcmedia.or/whiles-erry-
prepares-or-loodin-pholos/1807377100384133802
3n/ (accessed January 4, 2013. Pae 2
APPENDtX
Renderin o new ishin piers and sall marshes lookin wesl rom
lhe Hanhallan ride.
Allered Flickr imae. Ldwhilaker. rooklyn ride. Available rom:
Flickr. JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/edwhila-
ker/340032330/sizes/l/ (accessed November 1, 2012. Pae 31
vancouver Land ride, Washinlon Slale.
Huoz, Alicia. 1his aerial o lhe Land ride al Forl vancouver
Hisloric Reserve was laken al lhe 2007 dedicalion.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://arlworks.arls.ov/la=maya-lin
(accessed on Hay 3, 2012. Pae 4
Hile Lnd Park, London, UK.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.bdonline.co.uk/commenl/piers-
ouhs-inspiralion-lhe-barbican-by-chamberlin-powell-and-
bon/31251.arlicle (accessed on June 14, 2012. Pae 4
1ree canopy, UPenn, Philadelphia, PA.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.archdaily.com/5781/morris-
arborelum-lree-advenlure-melcale-archileclure-desin/
morris-arborelum-by-melcale-archileclure-desin/ (accessed on
July 25, 2012. Pae 51
An example o a `bioswale.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.miabirk.com/blo/wp-conlenl/
uploads/2011/01/Creen-Slreel-Fealure-225x300.|p (accessed on
January 25, 2013. Pae 53
Alleheny Riverronl Park, Pillsburh, PA.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://ballislamaazine.com/wp-conlenl/
uploads/2011/01/HvvA-Alleheny-Riverronl-20x1.|p
(accessed on Auusl 28, 2012. Pae 54
allery Park Cily promenade.
JPC 0iilal lmae, hllp://www.walkinolhebiapple.
com/2012/04/walk-on-ballery-park-esplanade-and-ride.hlml
(accessed on Auusl 28, 2012. Pae 54
Floalin dock in Riverside Park.
Carcia, Roberl, 1he Cily Pro|ecl. Available rom: Flickr. JPC 0iilal
lmae, hllp://www.lickr.com/pholos/cilypro|eclca/57853855/
(accessed on 0ecember 21, 2012. Pae
Unless lisled above, renderins were crealed by
WXY archileclure + urban desin. Aerial and sile pholoraphy by
Alberl vecerka/Lslo.
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PREPARED BY
WXY architecture + urban design
Principals: Adam Lubinsky, Claire Weisz, Mark Yoes
Project team members: Adriel Mesznik, Alice Shay,
Chat Travieso, Jacob Dugopolski, Justine Ala, Kennedy Howe,
Maiko Shimizu, Marcus Hooks, Mia Pears, Paul Salama,
Shachi Pandey, Stephanie Koltun
Graphic design for publication/website: Yeju Choi
The Blueway Plan is an effort led by Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer and New York State
Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, in collaboration with Manhattan Community Board 3, Manhattan
Community Board 6, and the Lower East Side Ecology Center, with funding from the New York State
Department of State Division of Coastal Resources. This report relies heavily on the cooperation of many
individuals representing a wide range of organizations and interests. The authors would like to thank those
individuals for sharing their experience and insight into the East River area:
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Office of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Office of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
Office of State Senator Daniel Squadron
Office of State Senator Liz Krueger
Office of State Senator Tom Duane
Office of Speaker Sheldon Silver
Office of Councilmember Daniel Garodnick
Office of Councilmember Margaret Chin
Office of Councilmember Rosie Mendez
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of State Division of Coastal
Resources
NYC Department of City Planning
NYC Department of Environmental Protection
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
NYC Department of Transportation
NYC Economic Development Corporation
NYC Housing Authority
CITY-WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Asian Americans for Equality
City Parks Foundation
Going Coastal
Green Team
Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
Neptune Foundation
NY Harbor School
NYC Soil and Water Conservation District
NYC Water Trail Association
Partnerships for Parks
Transportation Alternatives
Urban Swim
INSTITUTIONS
Con Ed
Chinatown Partnership
East Midtown Plaza
Friends of Stuyvesant Cove Pier
Good Old Lower East Side
GouverneurGardens
Hamilton Madison House
Hester Street Collaborative
Jacob Riis Houses
LaGuardia Houses
Lillian Wald Houses
Lower Eastside Girls Club
NYU Langone Medical Center
Solar One
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council
University Settlement
Vladeck Houses
Waterside Plaza Management
TENANT AND RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS
Baruch Houses Tenant Association
Campus Plaza Tenant Association
Smith Houses Tenant Association
Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village
Tenant Association
Tudor City Neighborhood Association
Two Bridges Tenant Association
Waterside Plaza Tenants Association
INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS
Billie Cohen LTD
Civitas / Community Board 8
Green Map
Jonathan Kirschenfeld Architect PC
New York Water Taxi / The Durst Organization Inc.
Rickenbacker + Leung / Urban Data Design
1HE
EA81
RtVER
LUEWA
PLAN
Hanhattan orough Presdent
3cott H. 3trnger
New York 3tate Assembymember
ran Kavanagh
New York 3tate Department of 3tate
Dvson of Coasta Resources
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