Press Release: Celebrate New York City’s 520 Miles of Waterfront This Weekend - DCP

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For Immediate Release
May 13, 2024

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

Celebrate New York City’s 520 Miles of Waterfront This Weekend

Free Events Scheduled in All Five Boroughs on May 18, May 19, and May 20

Celebration to Highlight Work to Enhance Sustainability, Resiliency, and Health of NYC’s Waterfront

NEW YORK – Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today announced a series of free tours and events for NYC 520, an annual celebration of New York City’s 520 miles of waterfront. Organized by DCP with sister agencies, practitioners, and non-profit partners, the celebration raises awareness about New York City’s waterfront, and highlights efforts to improve resiliency and public access. This year, seven events will take place from May 18 through May 20 across the boroughs, offering New Yorkers unique opportunities to explore and enjoy views of a diverse range of waterfront spaces.

“New York City's diverse waterfronts are a defining feature of our city, and we are committed to making them more resilient, sustainable, and ecologically healthy. These walking tours and events will allow New Yorkers to connect with nature and see the transformation these ongoing efforts are making firsthand. I encourage everyone to join us down by the water this weekend to celebrate our remarkable shorelines, and the work that has gone into making them better places to live, learn, work, and play,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick.

“New York Harbor is cleaner today than it has been in more than 150 years and what better way to enjoy our 520 miles of coastline than by joining other New Yorkers to learn about and explore a unique waterfront space,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “From Shirley Chisholm State Park along Jamaica Bay to the New Creek Bluebelt on Staten Island, DEP experts will be on hand to share the history of these spaces and the critical role these natural habitats will play in making New York City more resilient to climate change.”

“Spring is the perfect time for New Yorkers to experience the 520 miles of shoreline that New York City has to offer, and we are excited to again partner with the Department of City Planning to celebrate the beauty of our waterfront and waterways with NYC 520,” said New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “New York City’s shorelines are a critical outdoor recreation resource for many New Yorkers, in addition to being a vital place for ecological restoration and natural conservancy. From retrofitting our coastline to be resilient in the face of climate change, to clearing abandoned boats from the water with a new dedicated retrieval office, our work caring for our city’s natural spaces doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. We are delighted to invite the public to visit our shoreline and learn more about what makes these sites so special.”

This year marks the seventh annual celebration of the city’s 520-mile-long shoreline. Taking place on or around the fifth month and 20th day – 5/20 – each year’s programming has focused on different components of the waterfront and how they shape our everyday lives. This year's events celebrate efforts to enhance the sustainability, resiliency, and ecological health of New York City's waterfront and waterways.

The events set for Saturday, May 18, are:

Coney Island Creek Park Tour and Beach Cleanup, 10 am to 1 pm – Join DCP and NYC Parks Stewardship program for a tour of Coney Island Creek Park that will highlight the ongoing restoration of dunes and other projects along the creek. Participants will also have the option of joining up in a coastal clean-up after the event. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long sleeves, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty. RSVP is required.

Shirley Chisholm State Park Tour, 10 am to 1 pm – DCP, DEP, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks) will host this walking tour of Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn. Formally landfill, this park is the largest environmental restoration ever undertaken in New York City. Rising 130 feet above sea level, it occupies some of the highest ground in the city and offers spectacular panoramic views. Participants should be prepared for approximately three hours of walking with some steep inclines and bring water, sunscreen and wear comfortable, fully closed shoes (no sandals).

Governors Island Climate and Environmental Action Walking Tour, 1 to 2:30 pm – Join DCP and The Trust for Governors Island for a walking tour of its resilient and sustainable landscapes and new climate programs. The tour will go over the history, present, and future of climate and environmental action on Governors Island, including the Governors Island Historic District, The Hills, Governors Island Living Lab, and New York Climate Exchange. Afterwards, New Yorkers are invited to attend public events taking place on the island. Attendees should plan to board the 1 pm ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, and bring water, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes.

The events set for Sunday, May 19, are:

Arverne East Nature Preserve Tour, 10 am to 12 pm – Head to the Rockaways for a walking tour of the Arverne East Nature Preserve, hosted by DCP, NYC Parks, and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The Preserve includes five ecological communities, each contributing to a diverse ecosystem. The tour will begin at Beach 44th St at Edgemere Ave and tell participants about these ecological communities, the Preserve design, and the overall Arverne East development. Upon completion, Arverne East will be one of the most environmentally conscious developments in the United States, achieving net zero and eliminating the need for fossil fuels on site.

Living Breakwaters Tour, 1 to 4 pm – Living Breakwaters is a state-of-the-art blue-green infrastructure project to reduce risk to Tottenville’s shoreline, enhance harbor ecosystems, and support education and stewardship across Staten Island. This event is made of two activities hosted by DCP, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, and SCAPE Landscape Architecture: a tour and discussion of the breakwaters from the beach (open to all) and kayaking to get closer to the breakwaters. Reservations are required for kayaking on a first come first serve basis.

Bronx Point and Mill Pond Park Tour, 3 pm to 4 pm – Join DCP, NYC Parks, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Type A Projects for a tour of the Harlem River waterfront in the South Bronx. This tour will feature an overview of the Bronx Point redevelopment, including the new building and open space, BronxWorks pre-k, the Universal Hip Hop Museum, and much more. Attendees will also get a chance to visit the recently-renovated Mill Pond Park, which includes Deco Turf tennis courts, a sand play area, a shaded outdoor classroom, and an ADA-accessible esplanade.

The final event in this series is set for Monday, May 20:

Staten Island New Creek Bluebelt Tour, 10 to 11:30 am – Hosted by DCP and DEP, this tour will feature the most recent Bluebelt sites in the New Creek watershed, including the new Last Chance Pond and “Gateway to the Bluebelt” stormwater wetlands. Participants will explore the different stormwater, flood control, ecological, and native plant aspects of the system. The meeting location will be at the Staples Store parking lot located at 1885 Hylan Boulevard.

“This celebration of New York City’s waterways is an important showcase for why we must work hard to improve resiliency and sustainability in all our communities. They city’s unique and diverse waterfront requires a variety of ecological strategies that can both protect natural resources and safeguard residents. Through infrastructure projects such as our Living Breakwaters program, we are proud to contribute to the public and private investments that will help reduce erosion, enable communities and neighborhoods to better withstand storms, and enhance local habitats for years to come,” said New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas.

“We are thrilled to help celebrate NYC’s magnificent 520 miles of waterfront and welcome all New Yorkers to Shirley Chisholm State Park as we celebrate the park’s fifth anniversary and the Centennial season for our state park system,” said Leslie Wright, New York City Regional Director of NYS Parks. “The park is a testament to the power of collaboration and a stunning example of the splendid natural diversity of Jamaica Bay. The 407-acre park offers singular views, unexpected serenity, and a wealth of recreation for bikers, hikers, anglers, paddlers and bird watchers.”

“As construction of the Living Breakwaters nears completion, the shore walk and kayak tour with NYC 520 is an exciting opportunity to share how the Living Breakwaters will make the Staten Island Shoreline more resilient and celebrate the collective accomplishments of everyone who has made this important project a reality, especially the NYS Office of Resilient Homes and Communities and the Staten Island Residents who have advocated for and guided the project,” said Pippa Brashear, Resilience Principal and Partner at SCAPE Landscape Architecture. “SCAPE is excited to host this event with New York State Office of Resilient Homes and Communities and Kayak Staten Island and be a part of the NYC 520 celebration of New York's exceptional waterfront; come join us in Conference House Park / Raritan Bay on May 19th!”

“Bronx Point is proud to be included in NYC 520 this year. The project's new public open space along the Harlem River was the product of a 2+ year community design process that engaged a broad range of community stakeholders — from kids to seniors — and included over 25 public meetings and discussions. Marvel and Abel Bainnson Butz's masterfully executed final design includes a fully accessible play

ound, adult fitness areas, a new BBQ area, and many opportunities for riverside passive activities. We are proud to be the first affordable housing project to be verified through the WEDG standard, and strove to ensure that this new public open space was easily accessible and welcoming to the surrounding neighborhood. Transforming this formerly industrial site into new green open space included a newly rebuilt “live” revetment and a lush planting plan that allowed us to help fulfill a mandate for equitable investment in waterfront communities. Please come and enjoy with us,” said Annie Tirschwell, Type A Projects.

While New York City is home to many great public spaces, the waterfront links together its largest open space: its waterways. Out of 520 miles of shoreline, hundreds of miles are publicly accessible today. These open spaces are incredibly varied and include beaches, boardwalks, piers, esplanades, trails, lawns, and ballfields. Additionally, the city’s waterways themselves represent 156 square miles of public open space, larger than the total square milage of Philadelphia.

New York City’s waterfront and waterways provide a wide range of experiences and activities, including biking, fishing, and strolling along the shoreline, swimming and paddling a boat in the water, community events, educational programming, and taking in amazing views of the city’s skyline.

To stay in the loop about these events for 5/20, as well as other opportunities to learn about and help plan for New York City’s shoreline, follow @NYCPlanning on Twitter and Instagram.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.