Hello Ruthless Closing Plan for East River Park
The city promised it would leave 40 percent of the park open throughout construction. Here is their draft map for the 60 percent they will fence off in November. The rust-colored sections on the map will be closed and under construction for two years minimum.
The recently completed $3.5 million running track–closed off. Most of the Promenade–closed off–the way it was between 2001 and 2011 for repairs.
The open sections include the green section at the left on the map. That is Pier 42. That’s just south of the end of the promenade–the concrete slab and weeds surrounded by chain link fence.
In the city’s architectural drawings, Pier 42 is full of trees to protect in place (the speckled green); these are hypothetical trees, only.
This will all be in place in November, when the city fences off most of East River Park?
Goodbye long walks in the park and any faith we ever had that New York City really gives a crap about heat island effect, green solutions to the effects of climate change or our crowded neighborhood yearning to breathe free.
New York City is not doing right by us. Ask the governor for intervention. He can sign an executive order keeping 100 percent of the park open through the pandemic. That will give the city time to come to its senses and rework the flood control plan. It can be done. Sign the petition.
English