The Harlem River waterfront was once a central hub for water activities for its local residents in the early 20th century. The waterfront was a popular place to go to for daytrips - community members could go fishing, take an excursion along the shoreline, and attend a scenic boat cruise or watch racing competitions between boat crews on its waters. However, as the century progressed, the waterfront began to suffer from serious neglect. It became an illegal dumping ground that rendered it inaccessible to the public. In some places, heaps of trash that were more than 7-feet stood on the shoreline. What’s even more shocking is that more than 80-tons of trash and construction debris had to be removed from the waterfront by hand during its major clean up.
In recent years, the Harlem River waterfront has undergone many immense changes thanks to several city agencies like the New York City Parks & Recreation Department, the New York City Department of City Planning, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) working in partnership with New York Restoration Project. Recreational hot spots in upper Manhattan like Swindler Cove Park, the Sherman Creek Nature Trail and the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse have helped restore what was once lost from its shoreline. Now, New Yorkers have more than five-acres of land to explore the shoreline’s natural inhabitants through the educational programs hosted at Swindler Cove, learn the art of rowing along the river at the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse, and walk the lush green trails near Sherman Creek. And new projects to make the Harlem River’s future even brighter are in the works.
Coming soon, residents of Northern Manhattan will have a new spot to retreat to on the Harlem River waterfront. The NYCEDC is designing a plan, called the Sherman Creek Waterfront Esplanade Master Plan, to make the Sherman Creek waterfront a go-to destination for New Yorkers and visitors. After spending two years discussing ideas with community members, NYCEDC unveiled its draft of the design plan to the Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee of Manhattan Community Board 12. New sections of the shoreline have been proposed to the northern Manhattan community. Five new state-of-the-art parks on 202nd, 203rd, 204th, 205th and 206th streets would be built along the esplanade. Three new water access points would also be established so that the public can have a grand view of the Harlem River, more places to go fishing, mussel farming and rowing.
The Sherman Creek Waterfront Esplanade Master Plan will allow local residents to take a stroll near the waterfront, have even more access to the river, and give them more play spaces for their children, as well as new nature to preserve. If you are interested in seeing a detailed outline of the Sherman Creek Waterfront Esplanade Plan, be sure to check out its page on the NYCEDC site!