Looking
north on the new Harlem River Speedway |
The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is a 32-mile route that circumnavigates the island of Manhattan. The greenway
builds on recent efforts to transform a long-ignored and derelict waterfront into a green attraction for recreational and commuting use. Wherever possible, it runs along the shoreline and thus reclaims the waterfront for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, and other users of non-motorized transportation. The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway and other New York City greenways continuously improve the quality of life for New Yorkers by creating improved access to the waterfront and the open spaces throughout the City.
Most portions of the greenway are beautiful off-street paths through parks or other recreational spaces. Greenway-connectors run on-street, where waterfront access is not currently possible. Some of the improvements that have taken place include: signing a bike path through The Battery, transforming the industrial waterfront in the West Village and Chelsea into Hudson River Park, and turning the neglected and inaccessible Harlem River Speedway into a beautiful promenade. This newest section of off-street path runs two miles along the Harlem River waterfront, providing a lovely green space, stunning views of the High Bridge, the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and the Washington Bridge, as well as an enhanced connection between northern Manhattan and the rest of the island.
The Department of City Planning (DCP) has been active in the planning, design, promotion and implementation of new greenways since 1993, when it produced A
Greenway Plan for New York City.
DCP and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) also produced The
New York City Bicycle Master Plan in 1997, which incorporated the Greenway Master Plan’s goal of 350 miles of greenway throughout the city into a 900-mile citywide network of on- and off-street paths and bike lanes. The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway and this website are continuations of these efforts.
This website presents the user with information on the past, present and future of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway through text, maps, photos, and video of cyclists riding along portions of it.
Virtual
Ride Around Manhattan
Take a virtual ride on the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway with the Department of City Planning and see the greenway from a cyclist’s perspective.
Past
and Current Planning
Learn about the history and the future of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway and other New York City greenways.
Maps
See maps and photos of the greenway that detail the completed route, the Waterfront Links, and the long-term plans for the greenway.
Publications
Report:
 The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway Master Plan ( 3.92 MB), released in 2004, documents past plans for the greenway, recent improvements and current conditions on the greenway and the waterfront, and future greenway developments.
Brochure and Map:
The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway map highlights parks and other attractions located on or near the warterfront, points out ferry landings, guides the pedestrian and cyclist through on-street connections, and provides important safety tips.
Front ( 812 k)
Back ( 571 k)
Funding
This website was prepared for the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Funding for other planning and construction projects associated with the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway and Bicycle Network Development (BND) comes primarily from Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds under the Intermodal Surface Transportation (ISTEA) Efficiency Act (subsequently Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century).
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