New East River Waterfront Esplanade & EcoPark at Pier 35 is Coming Along Slowly But Surely

Downtown New Yorkers should be happy to see that work on the much-anticipated <a href="http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/east_river_pier_35_32436.aspx">East River Waterfront &amp; EcoPark at Pier 35</a> is moving forward slowly but surely. When complete, the new landscaped esplanade will culminate in a lush EcoPark and green habitat that looks right out over the river. The East River Waterfront Esplanade was designed by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/shop-architects/">SHoP Architects</a>, and is part of a larger project to revitalize the East River and Lower Manhattan. Planning began back in 2009 and the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/first-section-of-nycs-east-river-waterfront-park-will-open-in-may/">first phase was completed in 2011</a>, but we'll still have to wait until 2014 for the whole vision to come to fruition.

Mayor Bloomberg's plan for the <a href="http://www.nycedc.com/press-release/mayor-bloomberg-governor-paterson-assembly-speaker-silver-and-other-officials-break" target="_blank">East River Waterfront revitalization</a> will take advantage of a neglected, inaccessible stretch of land and create a 2 miles recreational opportunities.

<a href="http://www.shoparc.com/" target="_blank">SHoP Architects</a> undertook the job of designing the new park along with the renovation of Pier 15 and 35.

Many of the recreational opportunities will be located underneath FDR Drive, including pedestrian trails, bocce, petanque, basketball, exercising and even a dog park.

Native trees and plants will be used to landscape the area to create a rich, green space and a pleasant environment.

View of Pier 35 and the new eco park from the water.

Overview of the new landscaped park and the existing conditions.

Overview of new recreational opportunities.

Infrastructure progress is going on currently and work has begun to transform Pier 35 into a lush new EcoPark.

According to <a href="http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2012/07/pier-35-eco-project-and-infrastructure-work-to-begin-soon.html" target="_blank">The Lo Down</a>, the plan is to rebuild the pier as a recreational space stretching for one-thousand feet into the water.

Funded by a grant from the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources, Pier 35 will become an innovative habitat restoration park.

But all this takes time, so don't get too excited yet about lounging near the water on Pier 35 - it won't be done until 2014.

View of the Esplanade to the South.

View of the Esplanade to the North.