Community Corner

East River Esplanade Sinkhole Repaired After 3 Months

A stretch of the East River Esplanade that a sinkhole swallowed up in July has been repaved, but collapses continue to occur along the walk.

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Over the weekend, the Parks Department paved over the stretch of the Esplanade between East 74th and 76th streets, which had been roped off since the collapse in July.
Over the weekend, the Parks Department paved over the stretch of the Esplanade between East 74th and 76th streets, which had been roped off since the collapse in July. (Courtesy of Tricia Shimamura)

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A two-block section of the East River Esplanade was repaired this week, more than three months after a giant sinkhole opened up there and forced the area to be blocked off.

Late last week, the Parks Department paved over the stretch of the Esplanade between East 74th and 76th streets, which had been roped off since the collapse in July.

Elected officials including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and City Councilmember Ben Kallos, as well as the neighborhood's Community Board 8, had lobbied the city for months to repair the area, saying it hindered Upper East Siders' ability to safely enjoy the waterfront.

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"It is a huge service to our community to have it open again," Tricia Shimamura, who chairs CB8's Parks and Waterfront committee, said Monday.

Still, work remains to be done. While walking to the repaved area Monday, Shimamura said she encountered two more, smaller sinkholes along the Esplanade near 71st and 73rd streets that had to be roped off.

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Those ongoing collapses have spurred CB8 to issue multiple demands for the city to conduct a full environmental review of the Esplanade to ensure it is safe for use — especially as more New Yorkers venture outside during the pandemic.

Last month, the board unanimously passed a resolution requesting the inspections, after having previously sent a letter to the city's Parks Commissioner, demanding an inspection for structural integrity.

Another, newer sinkhole on the East River Esplanade is blocked off near East 73rd Street. (Courtesy of Tricia Shimamura)

The city has committed millions of dollars toward repairing decaying sections of the riverwalk, including areas between East 62nd and 63rd streets and East 90th and 94th streets. Work to be done includes restoring deteriorated sections of the esplanade, securing vulnerable elements and replacing damaged or failed structures.

Brendan Krisel contributed to this report.

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