New York Reopens Elevated East River Park to Boost Climate Resilience
New York City
Sun, 20 July 2025 Sunday, 20 July 2025
Local News
1 - 2 minutesNew York City has reopened key sections of East River Park, part of a major climate adaptation project along Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The upgraded park is now elevated by up to 10 feet to defend against coastal flooding, while also offering renewed green space for local residents.
The latest updates include basketball and tennis courts, picnic areas, shaded lawns, and hundreds of newly planted trees. A hidden floodwall runs through the site, allowing the park to serve as both a community hub and a protective barrier.
Mayor Eric Adams called the project “a model for climate resilience and livability” during a Memorial Day event. The reopening follows earlier milestones like new ballfields and the Delancey Street pedestrian bridge.
Designed with both environmental and social goals in mind, the park helps protect over 110,000 people, many living in affordable housing nearby. Although construction will continue until 2027, these new sections already reflect a growing trend in urban design: spaces that protect, include, and inspire.