A beloved NYC green space is back—and it’s hiding something powerful beneath the surface.
Major sections of East River Park have officially reopened after years of reconstruction, and visitors will notice more than just fresh tennis courts and picnic spots.
The park is now sitting 8 to 10 feet higher, concealing a massive flood protection system designed to safeguard the Lower East Side from climate change-fueled storms.
This dramatic transformation is part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project—a $1.45 billion initiative aimed at defending over 110,000 New Yorkers from rising sea levels and coastal flooding. But the city didn’t just build a wall—they built it beautifully.
Reopened just in time for summer, the southern end of the park now features six regulation tennis courts, two basketball courts, BBQ and picnic areas, open lawns, and a new nature exploration zone.
The design pairs climate resilience with everyday recreation, all backed by over 600 newly planted trees and 21,000 shrubs and grasses—with more greenery still to come.
“Today marks another important step forward in protecting and revitalizing our city’s waterfront,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This isn’t just infrastructure—it’s an investment in community, safety, and joy.”
The project isn’t just functional—it’s visionary. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, the new landscape was imagined as a “Park-ipelago”: a connected chain of green spaces that invites people in rather than keeping the water out.
With bridges like the ADA-accessible Delancey Street span already open—and more access points coming this summer—the goal is to make the park more welcoming and protective at the same time.
“These spaces do double duty,” said Deputy Mayor Jeff Roth. “They’re beautiful places to play and relax—but they’re also shielding our neighborhoods from the next big storm.”
The larger ESCR project is upgrading a 2.4-mile stretch from Montgomery Street to East 25th Street with floodwalls, berms, gates, and sewer upgrades.
Upcoming milestones include the reopening of the Corlears Hook Bridge and even more park space later this year. Construction will continue through early 2027, with a commitment to keep at least 42% of East River Park open throughout.
Elsewhere along the East River, the city has revitalized Stuyvesant Cove Park, Pier 42, and other nearby open spaces—all part of a broader climate adaptation strategy that’s as much about people as it is about protection.
“This is what the future of New York looks like,” said Elijah Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice. “Greener, stronger, and ready for whatever’s next.”