Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Postdlf
The Newtown Creek Nature Walk is part of the City’s celebration of its 520 miles of waterfront.
By Forum Staff
Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick on Sunday announced a series of free events for May to celebrate New York City’s 520 miles of waterfront and the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan released late last year, including nature walks along the Bronx River and a brass band performance near the South Street Seaport. These activities, several of them scheduled for Friday, May 20, will help New Yorkers connect with the past, present, and future of the city’s shoreline.
After going remote for 2020 and 2021, this year marks a return to in-person events with two self-guided tours you can go on all month long and several tours and showcases taking place exclusively on May 20.
DCP has coordinated these events with our sister agencies and community partners, including DEP, NYC Parks, New York City Economic Development Corporation, which runs NYC Ferry, Billion Oyster Project, the Bronx River Alliance, Culture Push, and Works on Water.
The two self-guided tours for May are:
- NYC 520 Waterfront Journey with NYC Ferry – This experience will lead you on up to 10 unique adventures along NYC Ferry routes. Take in the great views from the ferry, visit waterfront neighborhoods, learn about the waterfront’s history, and more. Each photo posted from any of the 10 adventures provides a chance to win great prizes provided by NYC ferry. The more adventures you visit, the more chances to win. One winner will get Skyline Drive-In tickets, and another will get lessons from Manhattan Kayak. Both winners will also receive two 30-day ferry passes. Check out @NYCFerry or @NYCWaterfront on Instagram to learn more.
- Newtown Creek Nature Walk – This Greenpoint, Brooklyn event takes New Yorkers along Newtown Creek and Whale Creek between Brooklyn and Queens. Richly planted with native trees, shrubs, and other flora, the walk traverses a previously inaccessible industrial shoreline now remade for public use as a waterfront promenade.
“With more than 500 miles of shoreline, much of which is here in Queens, our city has a duty to ensure our waterfronts are healthy, resilient, and benefit all New Yorkers,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “I encourage all Queens residents to take part in one or more of these events and to become familiar with the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, which details what we need to do to preserve, protect, and expand access to our waterfronts.”
Councilman Ari Kagan (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Committee on Resiliency and Waterfronts, added, “As a city of many islands, with over 520 miles of waterfront, it is crucial that we invest into the improvement of our waterfront infrastructure. From Coney Island to Jamaica Bay, to Pelham Bay and Arthur Kill, waterfront resilience across all five boroughs must be strengthened to ensure our City is protected against disasters, while also focusing on the upkeep and preservation of beaches, parks, and boardwalks to celebrate the beauty of our great City. As chair of the Committee on Resiliency and Waterfronts, I applaud the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan as a key investment into the future of New York City.”
