Agency and elected officials and community representatives joined to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new recreation deck at Pier 42 on the Lower East Side. Image Credit: NYC Parks/DDC.
On November 29, 2022, officials from the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Design and Construction and NYC Economic Development Corporation joined elected officials and community representatives to celebrate the opening of the new recreational deck at Pier 42 in the Lower East Side. Pier 42 is located off the East River Greenway and is located near the intersection of South Street and Jackson Street. The deck sits on a former industrial maritime site and parking lot.
The new recreation deck is 2.8 acres and includes a turf soccer field, tennis courts, half basketball courts, picnic tables, and more. An additional project, Pier 42’s “upland park” section, is slated to be finished by late summer 2023. The upland park will provide needed green space, including an entry garden, playground, and comfort station along with pathways.
The upland park project is funded with $33.66 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the Mayor’s Office, and the City’s Department of Environmental Protection. The funding from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation comes from Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Both projects reflect a $60 million investment in the Lower East Side.
The projects are also a part of the City’s greater efforts to revitalize and protect the Lower East Side through the City’s East Side Coastal Resiliency project. The project creates environmental protections from flooding through the installation of flood gates, raising of park land, and other measures. Projects like Pier 42 help mitigate the effects and changes for the Lower East Side community by providing more park space and waterfront access as the necessary safety features continue to be implemented.
NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball stated, “Creation of new open spaces in Manhattan is rare and we are proud to partner with NYC Parks to deliver a much-needed recreational space to the Lower East Side community. This project is just part of the larger redevelopment of Pier 42, and we look forward to standing with our partners in city government for the ribbon cutting of the full park late next year.”
Council Member Christopher Marte stated, “We are excited to join the Parks Department in opening the new sports facilities at Pier 42. In the weeks since it was completed, we have already seen constituents of all ages flock to the tennis courts, basketball hoops, and turf field. Activating our waterfront for increased public use helps make sure our neighborhood’s biggest assets and best views aren’t reserved for parking and storage. I look forward to this space becoming even more popular and am grateful for this expansion of park space that will be used by thousands of residents of my district.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)