Manhattan Greenway Harlem River

The Manhattan Greenway Harlem River will create seven new acres of waterfront open space from 125th Street to 132nd Street, as well as new pedestrian and bicycle connections to the Manhattan Greenway from East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Randall’s Island. These new waterfront and regional cycling connections are critical for the surrounding neighborhoods, which have been historically underserved by open space and physically cut-off from the river. Starr Whitehouse has been working since 2016 on the creation of this park, beginning with conceptual planning for NYC Parks, through current construction documentation of the park for NYC EDC. The design is an infrastructural challenge, as much of the project’s 4,000 LF parkland is located on top of a platform and bulkhead, with several bridges crossing over the site. Starr Whitehouse is working on the current design phase with Langan Engineering, who leads the reconstruction of the waterfront platform and bulkhead. The new park design features safe waterfront access, passive and active recreational spaces for all ages and abilities, and native and flood-resilient landscapes that enhance the site’s environmental benefits. Amenities include adult fitness, lawns, a playground, a BBQ area, and a new public artwork by artist Eto Otitigbe. Community engagement has been at the heart of the planning and design process over the past six years—Starr Whitehouse has collaborated with neighborhood organizations, elected officials, Community Boards 10 and 11, the local arts and cultural community, and the general public on a design that will restore the Harlem River waterfront as a community asset and an ecological resource for education, culture, and recreation.