Project Will Bring New Open Space and Waterfront Access to Upper Manhattan Communities

Design Will Improve Resiliency, Help Mitigate Impacts of Extreme Weather and Protect Shoreline Against Sea-Level Rise

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced funding to advance construction of major elements of the Manhattan Greenway’s Harlem River section to help connect neighborhood residents to the waterfront and bolster protections from extreme weather and sea level rise. The project, formally known as Manhattan Greenway Harlem River, includes a reconstructed seawall, new pathways for pedestrians and bikes, as well as a brand-new seven-block waterfront park funded in part by $43 million from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

“New York State is investing in Harlem and other neighborhoods across the city with support from the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act, connecting communities to the waterfront while also making these areas more resilient and sustainable,” Governor Hochul said. “Last week’s severe flooding and resulting State of Emergency declaration are reminders that extreme weather is no longer a rare occurrence — it’s our new reality. This project comes at a critical time as we double down on building climate resilience, protecting vulnerable areas, and expanding access to safe and healthy outdoor spaces.”

Part of the broader Manhattan Waterfront Greenway initiative to create a 32.5-mile ring of green space around the island of Manhattan, the $309 million Harlem River project is a New York City-led effort to reshape Harlem’s shoreline. The Greenway will provide essential climate-friendly transportation, filling critical gaps that connect to the Empire State Trail through a landscaped corridor designed to absorb and retain rainfall, sensitively manage stormwater, and mitigate future flood events.

New York State is contributing $43 million in funding from the Environmental Bond Act, administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), to address climate vulnerability in a disadvantaged community by elevating the shoreline to reduce risks from sea level rise and intense storms, while also expanding waterfront access for East Harlem. The site will be elevated approximately two feet to an elevation of 11 feet, helping provide protection from sea level rise to 2080 projections. The new park will add hundreds of trees and shrubs, and two acres of lawns, helping to reduce urban heat island impacts in East Harlem and absorbing and retaining stormwater.

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