Gloves on: Pitch in during Community Stewardship days underway at East River Park

The LES Ecology Center is now hosting Community Stewardship Days at East River Park Fire Boat House every Monday and Friday morning through the end of the season. 

Details via the EVG inbox: 

Where: Meet on the steps leading to the Fire Boat House 

What: Help clean up the park, remove invasive species, and beautify the area 

Why: A chance to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and make a positive impact in the neighborhood 

No experience is necessary, just bring enthusiasm. We’ll provide gloves, tools, first aid, and guidance.

Hours: 8:30-11:30 a.m. 

Sign up at this link.

A spokesperson told EVG in an email: "Although we hope to return fully to East River Park in 2027, we are committed to continuing stewardship of this beloved space until then and beyond." 

The LES Ecology Center is currently operating out of Seward Park. The historic Fire Boat House, located between the Williamsburg Bridge and Corlears Hook in the newly reopened sections of East River Park, is currently unoccupied, its future unknown. 

The "phased work operations" in East River Park began in November 2021 within Project Area 1, situated between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been covering the park with fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project. They are elevating the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A look inside the former Fireboat House in East River Park as it faces an uncertain future

A look at the newly opened East River Park from the Corlears Hook pedestrian bridge

On Sept. 5, the city officially reopened the Corlears Hook Pedestrian Bridge, restoring access to the waterfront and the rebuilt East River Park here from the Lower East Side.

We first stopped by on Sept. 6, though thunderstorms cut that visit short.

So we returned this past Saturday for a more thorough look at the new landscape. 

Here's a rendering of the newly opened areas, including the parts of East River Park accessible starting this past Memorial Day via the Delancey Street pedestrian bridge ...

With these sections reopened, it feels more like a park, as you can travel by foot or bike from just north of the Williamsburgh down to Pier 36 without feeling boxed in by the surrounding construction. 

Along with the new Colears Hook pedestrian bridge comes several new Phase 1 amenities for East River Park: the flagpole area at Corlears Hook Park, six additional tennis courts, an amphitheater (of sorts), an esplanade with seating areas, and direct access to Pier 42 and the Corlears Hook ferry. There's also open space with some postcard-worthy views. 

Here's a look...

The plantings are well-maintained, and the grass is carefully manicured. Still, for now, the area still feels pretty sterile — a reminder of the hundreds of mature trees that were removed when the city raised the park eight to 10 feet as part of the billion-dollar East Side Coastal Resiliency project. 

Shade, at least, will be scarce for the foreseeable future. People huddled in small patches of it provided by the new trees.

A major feature of this section is the new amphitheater, which is still a work in progress and will get its canopy later. 

This area doesn't give off amphitheater vibes at the moment. (This link has the vision for the space.)

At least the views survived...

For East Village residents interested in the park, this is where you'll need to go through the end of 2026. As previously reported last Monday, the three East Village access points to the park, at Houston, Sixth, and 10th streets, are sealed off. 

The "phased work operations" in East River Park began in November 2021 within Project Area 1, situated between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been covering the park with fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the ESCR project. They are raising the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to safeguard the area from future storm surges.

A last look at East River Park from the 6th Street Overpass

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This past weekend provided one last opportunity to cross the Sixth Street pedestrian bridge into East River Park. As of yesterday, the overpass — the final East Village access point — has been closed off. 

The closure cuts off the running track, the outdoor gym, and the stretch of esplanade that many neighbors relied on for daily routines. The trees shading the Sixth Street entrance will soon come down as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. 

When the work is finished — expected by the end of 2026 — this part of the park will reopen in a new form. Until then, the bridge remains closed, the gates are locked, and another section of the old park has disappeared. 

Here's one last look...

Monday's parting shot

At 12:30 a.m., hours before the closure of the Sixth Street overpass today, Wendy Rubin went for a last run on the East River Park track. 

There, she crossed paths with Sarah Ferguson, also out getting in a run. Both have called the East Village home since the mid-1980s, spending four decades along the park and river. 

Wendy shared this final photo of the track. 

This portion of the renovated East River Park is expected to return at the end of 2026.

East River Park north of Houston Street now closed until the end of 2026

Photos from Aug. 31

Starting today, the Sixth Street overpass, the last access from the East Village to East River Park, will close.

The shutdown means the three East Village access points to the park, at Houston, Sixth and 10th streets, will all be sealed off. The closure also takes away the track and field area, the outdoor gym, as well as the esplanade off the Sixth Street Overpass, which will be demolished at a later date. 

Residents will not have access to this section of East River Park until the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR) wraps up, which the city says will be by the end of 2026.

The running track, rebuilt in 2017-18 during a $2.8 million renovation, is among the facilities now off-limits. And say goodbye to the trees along the Sixth Street entrance: they will be cut down as part of this phase of the work.

This marks the latest milestone in the city's phased plan. The southern half of East River Park closed in late 2021, and sections have been reopening in stages.

The rebuilt Delancey Street pedestrian bridge reopened last September, along with East River Park Ballfields 1 and 2. Other amenities returned to areas just north and south of the Williamsburg Bridge on Memorial Day.

And this past Friday marked the opening of the new Corlears Hook Pedestrian Bridge. This return also comes with several new East River Park Phase 1 amenities: the flagpole area at Corlears Hook Park, six additional tennis courts, an amphitheater (of sorts), an esplanade with seating areas, and direct access to Pier 42 and the Corlears Hook ferry. (We will post a few photos later this week.)

Meanwhile, in the East River Park area near the East Village, the 10th Street pedestrian bridge access closed on May 27. Later, workers demolished the bridge overnight in July, which prompted partial shutdowns of the FDR.

And the tree-less view of the area once accessible via 10th Street...

The city has stated that it will maintain public access to at least 42% of the park throughout construction.

The "phased work operations" in East River Park began in November 2021 within Project Area 1, situated between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been covering the park with fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the billion-dollar-plus ESCR. They are raising the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to safeguard the area from future storm surges.

How to contribute art to a memorial zine for the old East River Park

A local resident is creating a not-for-profit zine as a memorial to honor the old East River Park, ahead of the closure of the park's last remaining section in the coming weeks. 

The project is intended as a way for community members to share art, photos or poetry and collectively process the loss of the park as it was. 

Contributors will receive a copy of the final zine — either by mail or in person — as part of this exchange of creative work and memory. 

The zine is the idea of Ella Parker, who describes herself as a "Lower East Side resident and fellow lover of the Park." 

Parker said she began creating art herself as a way to process the park's closure and wanted to extend the opportunity to others. 

"I was hoping there might be some kind of opportunity to share with others, but hadn't seen anything … so I thought I should make it happen myself, especially once the track's closure date was announced," she said.

Anyone interested in contributing can email her here. 

The "phased work operations" in East River Park commenced in November 2021, in Project Area 1, located between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been burying the park under fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the billion-dollar-plus ESCR. They are elevating the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges.

The entire northern section of East River Park, including the running track, closes on Sept. 8

Beginning Monday, Sept. 8, the entire northern stretch of East River Park, from Houston Street north, will close as crews working on the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR) continue clearing the land.

The closure means that the three East Village access points to the Park — from Houston, Sixth and 10th streets — will shutter, and all park access, including the track and field area and esplande off of the Sixth Street Overpass, will no longer be available to residents for the duration of the billion-dollar stormproofing, expected to be complete by the end of 2026. 

The 10th Street overpass and access closed on July 13.

The city spent $2.8 million to upgrade the running track off of Sixth Street during a year-long renovation in 2017-18.

Meanwhile, the Corlears Hook Pedestrian Bridge will reopen on Thursday, Sept. 5, reconnecting the Lower East Side to the waterfront via a new overpass. The day will also bring back the flagpole area at Corlears Hook Park, plus a batch of long-awaited East River Park Phase 1 upgrades: six more tennis courts, a new amphitheater, esplanade and seating areas, and direct access to Pier 42 and the Corlears Hook Ferry Terminal. 

This map shows the areas that will be open and closed as of Sept. 8...

The city has stated that it will maintain public access to at least 42% of the park throughout construction.

The "phased work operations" in East River Park commenced in November 2021, in Project Area 1, located between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been burying the park under fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the billion-dollar-plus ESCR. They are elevating the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges.

Farewell to the old East 10th Street pedestrian bridge

This weekend, workers will begin the months-long demoliton of the 10th Street pedestrian bridge that leads from the East Village to East River Park.

According to community notices, the work begins at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. (Late Saturday night!) 

Per the notices: 

Activities related to the removal of the East 10th Street Bridge will necessitate overnight work. This operation can be disruptive and loud. Because this work includes full and partial FDR Drive closures, we are required to perform it at night to minimize traffic disruptions. Noise, vibration, and air quality monitors are in place. We apologize for the disturbance and thank you for your patience as we make these critical upgrades.  

The bridge, along with the adjacent playground, BBQ area, and basketball courts, closed on May 27 as the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project moved north. 

 

Here's a view of the now tree-less area, taken from the still-open section off of the Sixth Street pedestrian bridge.

The Sixth Street section, which includes the running track and a stretch of the walkway along the river, is expected to close at the end of the summer.

Several refurbished East River Park areas around the Williamsburg Bridge reopened on Memorial Day, including the south tennis courts. By the start of fall, East Village-based park-goers must head south to access any East River Park amenities. 

The city has stated that it will maintain public access to at least 42% of the park throughout construction, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. 

The "phased work operations" in East River Park commenced in November 2021, in Project Area 1, located between Montgomery Street and 15th Street. Workers have been burying the park under fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the billion-dollar-plus ESCR. They are elevating the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to protect the area from future storm surges.