It took 20 years for East River Park to get upgrades to ballfields and improvements to the waterfront promenade, but in the next 20 years the park is likely to undergo even more radical changes.
Last month, the federal government announced a huge $335 million grant to build a 10-20 foot berm from East 23rd Street to Montgomery Street — a barrier meant to protect the low-lying east side (and the 14th St. Con Ed plant) from another Sandy-sized storm surge.
The design will be much more than just a sea wall. The winning design proposes extensive landscaping for recreation, more foot bridges across the FDR, and more creative ways to interact with the East River on days when there isn’t a hurricane.
But what exactly will it look like? Well, that’s still very much undecided. On Wednesday evening, Community Board 3 will take up the topic at Manny Cantor Center (197 East Broadway) starting at 6:30 pm. It’s the first of what will certainly be many meetings to come.
If you’re able to make the meeting, please leave comments below, or email us afterwards with a report.