East River Greenway

East River Greenway

The East River Greenway (also called the East River Esplanade) is a 9.44 miles long foreshoreway for walking or cycling on the east side of the island of Manhattan on the East River. The Greenway is separated from motor traffic. Many sections also separate pedestrians from cyclists. The path is parallel to the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive (FDR drive) for a majority of its length. Parts of the greenway were built at different times. Most of the greenway was built in the 1930 to 1950s.

All the pictures have been taken by Elena, but the weather was not helping.

Hudson River on the west, with a connection to the Erie Canal.The East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan was known for heavy maritime activity, with over 40 piers in operation by the later 1950s.

The rise of truck traffic and the transfer of port activity to the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal drastically reduced maritime traffic on the river after the middle 20th century. With many piers now defunct, ambitious plans have been made to reclaim and reuse the pier space.

The north-south arterial highway, the FDR Drive, was moved to an elevated location to allow convenient access to the piers.

In the 1970s, the Water Street Access Plan was drafted to extend the confines of the traditional Financial District eastward and create a new business corridor along Water Street, south of Fulton Street. Noting the success of the World Financial Center, the East Side Landing plan was created in the 1980s to add commercial and office buildings along the waterfront, again south of Fulton Street, similar to Battery Park City.

Benches were also added along the partially restored waterfront.

Peking. Furthermore, the Fulton Fish Market formerly located around South Street and Fulton Street, was pressured to relocate in 2005 to Hunts Point in the Bronx due to plans for the redevelopment of the Manhattan waterfront.

The pedestrian and bike path was first established in the late 1990s between Montgomery Street in the Lower East Side and Broad Street in the Financial District.

In 1982, there was a plan to expand the Seaport Museum of New York and attract tourist activity. Parts of the district were devoted to retail, including the main building of the Fulton Fish Market. A modern shopping mall was then built on Pier 17 and was opened in September 11, 1985.

The pedestrian path/bikeway has been well received by community members. Drawbacks exist however.

The pedestrian path and bikeway are not segregated from each other; there is one lane in each direction which is shared by pedestrians and bikers.

The path curves around FDR Drive viaduct pillars.

Brooklyn Bridge over the Greenway.