First Phase of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project Opens
Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused approximately $19 billion in damage citywide, “New York City launched a process to assess climate change vulnerabilities and began advancing an ambitious portfolio of long-term coastal protection projects” to increase the city’s resiliency. In addition to preventing flooding, the design of the project will also add vibrancy and access to public waterfront spaces. Among the initiatives is the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction. Construction began in the fall of 2020, with work continuing throughout 2026. The City of New York and the federal government are jointly funding the project and on November 4th, the first phase of the project officially opened. The 2.25-mile stretch from Montgomery Street to East 5th Street along the East River features a “series of interconnected, elevated parks that functions as both public recreation areas and flood protection infrastructure.” A mix of floodwalls, sliding gates, berms, and raised parkland, while the neighborhood benefits from several recreational additions including picnic zones, an amphitheater, and zones for nature exploration and water play. In addition, environmental education programs will be offered within the new 6,409-square-foot Solar One Environmental Education Center currently under construction and located in Stuyvesant Cove Park featuring “elevated classrooms, a 21kW solar array, battery storage, and flood-resilient design measures.” Located in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 100-year floodplain, and upon full construction completion, the ESCR project will offer protection to the more than 110,000 New Yorkers residing in the surrounding area, as well as critical infrastructure, including a major pump station and an electrical substation that powers much of Lower Manhattan as well as numerous local schools and libraries according the project’s dedicated website