The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway embraces the island in an almost continuous path that runs from West 118th Street in Inwood, south along the Hudson, around the Battery, and north along the East River. The Greenway affords New Yorkers the pleasures of water views while walking, jogging, biking or just relaxing.

A gap in the Greenway lies along the East River between 38th and 61st streets. Called the “East River Esplanade” or “East River Greenway,” it is scheduled for construction in 2019 and the city has committed $100 million to its completion.

Plans include a pedestrian walkway, or bridge, over the northern part of Clara Coffey Park at 54th Street and York Avenue. The TBA has protested the bridge’s design and location, and provided an alternative solution.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Community Board 6 and Sutton Area Community have protested the bridge’s proposed location as a hindrance to the park. In a letter to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Maloney called on the NYCEDC to relocate the bridge to East 53rd Street, and to include the community in further planning.

The TBA will provide news on our website, in e-bulletins, and in future issues of the Turtle Bay News as this story continues to unfold.

TBA’S RESOLUTION

Thursday, December 21, 2017

TBA:  The Greenway Bridge
Two Bridges:  One Much Too Far, The Other Just Right!

One span pursues a tortuous, serpentine route from East 54th Street, looping skyward, destroying the Sutton Place Park in its haste to plunge back to earth at the FDR Drive in a double zig-zag. Gone is the privacy of those who live here. There has to be a better solution.

Another span, however, adopts a common-sense path. It starts inboard at 53rd Street, not 54th, taking a straight line thence to the FDR Drive, which it bridges directly. At the outboard side of FDR Drive, it follows the Drive, serving both it and the Esplanade. Here is the ideal solution. The park is spared. Privacy is assured.

The Turtle Bay Association thereby supports the second design. It is simpler and does the job for which it was intended.

Bruce Silberblatt
Chair, Zoning & Land Use Committee
The Turtle Bay Association