Greenway Path Extensions Coming To Wash Heights, Inwood: Mayor

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — The city's long-held goal of building a waterfront path around the island of Manhattan for walkers and cyclists inched closer to reality on Monday, when Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would spend $723 million to complete the project by 2029.

Large chunks of the greenway already exist, but the funding announced Monday would go to covering different gaps in the path — including in Washington Heights and Inwood.

"We're going to be doing something unprecedented all around Manhattan: to have the greenway finally completed," de Blasio said Monday as he unveiled his $98.6 billion post-pandemic "recovery budget."

Parts of the greenway that already exist include the 11-mile Hudson River bike path on Manhattan's West Side and the 9.4-mile East River Esplanade.

According to City Hall spokesperson Laura Feyer, here are the two Upper Manhattan areas that will get some of the $723 million of funding for new greenway path sections.

• Inwood ($307M): Harlem River waterfront from Sherman Creek and Academy Street to the University Heights Bridge at 207th Street
• Harlem and Washington Heights ($170M): Harlem River waterfront from 145th Street to Highbridge Park

"There has long been a community vision for improved public waterfront access and enhanced neighborhood connectivity in Inwood. Expanding the Greenway to Inwood in a thoughtful way will allow users to better experience existing and future open spaces," reads a pamphlet previously released by the city about the greenway.

Construction will start in 2023, with design and procurement beginning this year, de Blasio said.

Along with Upper Manhattan, the funding announced Monday will also cover different gaps in the greenway in East Midtown near the United Nations building and in the East Village.

"I thank Mayor de Blasio for the waterfront investments coming to Northern Manhattan," Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez told Patch "I hope with the additional $477 million alongside the investments we were able to secure during the Inwood Rezoning — we're going to see major improvements to our waterfront areas."

Once completed, the Manhattan greenway would add up to more than 1,000 acres of open space — bigger than Central Park, de Blasio said.

"This is a great investment in the future of this city and something I think will be deeply used by future generations," he said.

Patch reporter Nick Garber contributed to this report.