A visit to East River Park

A visit to East River Park
Photos by Stacie JoyThis past July 4, EVG contributor Stacie Joy visited East River Park, documenting the visitors who were out enjoying the holiday and ideal summer weather.If all goes according to the city’s updated plans, then this marked the last July 4 along this stretch of the Park for the next four years. As previously reported, city officials, starting next spring, will close East River Park, burying it with 8- to 10-feet of soil to help protect the east side from future storms as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project. The controversial plan is currently winding through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Community Board 3 recently signed off on the project, though with a list of conditions. (On Monday, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer asked city officials for a 60-day delay for the City Planning Commission hearing to address unanswered questions about the project.)Stacie noted there was some misinformation about the city’s plan from a few of the people she talked with in East River Park, including the length of the closure (one person said 10 to 15 years, which, well…). Another person thought that East River Park was closing for good. Overall, though, Stacie reported that there was a positive, low-key vibe along the waterfront on this July 4 holiday.