Discuss The City's Planned Harlem Greenway Link Next Week

EAST HARLEM, NY — Harlem residents can discuss the city's plans to design and construct an 11-acre park in East Harlem with Parks Department representatives next week.

The park — which is being referred to as the Harlem Greenway Link — will provide the neighborhood with waterfront access and bridge the gap between the East River Esplanade and Harlem River Park, Parks Department officials said.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pelham Fritz Recreation Center located on Mount Morris Park West inside of Marcus Garvey Park. A similar community discussion session was held in July.

When complete, the Harlem Greenway Link will connect the riverside bike and pedestrian path between between East 125th St and 132nd streets, according to Parks Department officials. The link is part of plans for a larger Manhattan Greenway — a contiguous, 32-mile patch that would circle the entire island of Manhattan.

The city will dedicate $100 million in next year's budget to expand the East River Greenway from the Upper East Side to Midtown East, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in April. Much of that money will be spent on extending the East River Esplanade from East 61st Street to East 53rd Street, de Blasio said. There's currently a gap in the esplanade between East 34th and East 61st streets, city officials said.

Photo by David Shankbone via Flickr/Creative Commons