Popular Riverside Park Bike Path Reopens After Construction Work

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A popular stretch of bike path in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side has reopened after nearly four months of construction.

New York City Parks announced Friday that the repair work on the Cherry Walk path between 100th and 125th streets is now finished, and the route for walkers and bikers is reopened.

Great news: repair work on the Cherry Walk @RiversideParkNY is now complete! We are delighted to announce the re-opening of this vital stretch of greenway to pedestrians and cyclists. pic.twitter.com/hx4PbYLdsI
— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) January 15, 2021

With short notice, the Park's Department announced that the usually bustling bike path in Riverside Park would temporarily shut down near the end of September. At the time, Riverside Park told Streetsblog that the work would take three weeks.

It took close to four months.

The Park's Department said the reason for the closure was out of "an abundance of caution" related to "planned shoreline and path reconstruction works" to restore areas damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

The Park's Department also said, "The project will restore the vulnerable shoreline and repave the path, providing a safer and smoother biking experience."

The Cherry Walk path stretches from West 72nd Street to West 158th Street on the west side of Manhattan and is known as one of the busiest bike paths in New York City. The closure caused a major change in routine for the thousands of people who use it to get to and from work.