Mayor Eric Adams has initiated a substantial greenway expansion aimed at bridging existing gaps in the outer boroughs. This project plans to introduce over 40 new miles of greenways across five distinct corridors, aligning with the administration’s goal to enhance protected bike infrastructure and promote safer, greener transportation options in Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and The Bronx.
This expansion is part of Mayor Adams’ broader vision of being a five-borough administration, and aims to be a key step in changing the transportation landscape of the city. With a noted increase in biking in recent years, this initiative is expected to facilitate safer and greener commuting options across the city.
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, this project is a step towards addressing the greenway network gaps and creating accessible parkland and bikeways for New Yorkers. The collaborative effort between the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT), Parks & Recreation Department (NYC Parks), and Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) underpins this initiative, with further federal support anticipated for upcoming transportation, sustainability, and resiliency projects.
The greenway expansion encompasses both recreational paths and crucial commuter routes, designed with a focus on community engagement, particularly in historically underserved areas. The aim is to broaden the appeal of safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly transportation options among residents.
Map of the greenway expansion being planned. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation
The identified corridors for the greenway expansion include the Queens Waterfront from Gantry Plaza State Park to Little Bay Park (16 miles); Historic Brooklyn, from Coney Island to Highland Park (12 miles); Staten Island Waterfront, from the Goethals Bridge to Verrazzano Bridge (10 miles); South Bronx, from Randall’s Island Park to SUNY Maritime (15 miles); and Southern Queens, from Spring Creek Park to Brookville Park (7 miles).
Each corridor has been selected based on factors such as equity, park access, transportation utility, and economic development.
The planning and implementation for these corridors will be conducted in phases over the coming years, with work on the Harlem River Greenway in the Bronx already in progress. Planning for the Queens Waterfront Greenway is slated to begin in early 2024, with new implementation plans for other corridors set to commence approximately every six months thereafter.
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I imagine that the owners of waterfront homes in College Point, Malba, and Whitestone will be overjoyed with this construction. It recalls a Robert Moses project of cutting off access to the water.
Great reporting. Appreciate that you call my borough by the proper “The Bronx.”
To go one step further, may I suggest referring to the boroughs outside Manhattan as the “other” boroughs, as opposed to “outer” boroughs. Former City Planning Commissioner Brenda Levin would always make a point of that.
Thanks for all you do.
They’ve always been called the Outer Boroughs because that’s what they are. Why is it necessary to reinvent the wheel. “Other Boroughs” sounds ridiculous and the kind of targeted virtue signalling nonsense speech there’s so much of these days. Aren’t there bigger issues than this?
“Other” sounds exclusive, while “Outer” is just a geographic fact. Why, even?
None of this is funded. There is a small amount of federal money for studying what’s needed, but nothing for actual building. Just the soon-to-open 53-60th Street Esplanade cost over $100m, and that was expiring Hurricane Sandy money. Yes, that’s too much money for 8 blocks of an outer detour Greenway, though it looks great, but that’s anther discussion (including why there are 0-3 workers most weekdays). Where will the rest of the funding come from?
This is one of those substance-free press releases that contains no actual plan or specific funding unless you count “anticipated” sources. There’s no real announcement here, other than that they agreed to plan/study the issue. I guess that’s a first step, right?
Why leave Manhattan out of this? And who is going to pay for all of this?
I was taught that NYC consisted of 5 boroughs. The Bloomberg administration initiated this “outer borough” which I assume was to differentiate everyone else from Manhattan. Just like the green cabs. Everyone seemed to adopt this idea which has been a good idea.
“Each corridor has been selected based on factors such as equity”
Lol! NYC is run by angry middle school girls.