EsplanadeFriends is a Waterfront Conservancy serving the Upper East Side and East Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan.

We advocate, maintain, and provide environmental community programming on the East River Waterfront.

We offer gardening, fishing classes, birding and waterfront tours, composting, yoga classes on the water and our signature family-friendly live music concerts!

Upcoming Events

Thank you to our Esplanade Friends for making all of our Summer and Fall events such a success! Please keep an eye out for our upcoming Winter events and our live music series starting back up in the Spring.

EsplanadeFriends is urgently calling for action regarding the ongoing closure of the East River Esplanade in the East 70s due to the HSS Kellen Tower project. While we support the improvements, the lack of a temporary path is depriving runners, pedestrians, and cyclists of essential green space, disrupting daily life and well-being.

**Reopening the Esplanade**: We demand the expedited reopening of the Esplanade, with a north-south connection restored by Spring 2025 at the latest. Our community deserves uninterrupted access to this vital public space.

We are urgently calling on all responsible parties—Hospital for Special Surgery, Manhattan Borough Commissioner Shimamura, Commissioners Sue Donoghue and Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, and Council Members Julie Menin and Keith Powers—to act swiftly and restore safety and access to our community. Immediate action is critical!

This ongoing closure and neglect of critical infrastructure is unacceptable.

**Sincerely,  EsplanadeFriends** 

Sign the petition now to demand action!

Sign the Petition: Stop Extended Closures, Improve Safety, Lighting, and Green Spaces on the Esplanade!

SIGN THE PETITION

The New Midtown Greenway Extension is Now Open!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

image of the queensboro bridge

As of December 2023, the East River Midtown Greenway is open to the public for walking, jogging, biking, and family enjoyment. EsplanadeFriends has been working closely with The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Parks who officially opened the East Midtown Greenway and Phase 2B of Andrew Haswell Green Park at the end of 2023 with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Signed sealed and delivered by fan favorite Noiz R and B band presented by EsplanadeFriends Conservancy at Andrew Haswell Green Park today Sat, April 27, 1-4 pm! @suttonplacesocialmagazine
Standing in line for free creamy delicious A La Mode ice cream today April 27 at Andrew Haswell Green Park. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @uppereastsidernyc
Standing in line for free creamy delicious A La Mode ice cream today April 27 at Andrew Haswell Green Park. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @uppereastsidernyc
Free ice cream and live Motown music today Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park! @cb8manhattan
Free ice cream and live Motown music today Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park! @cb8manhattan
Can’t wait until May 19 - the next @nycaudubon x @esplanadefriend free birding event!
Noiz R and B Band kicks off the EsplanadeFriends 2024 concert series this Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park! Free ice cream scoops and craft activities too! @craftstudio @fullstack @ suttonplacesocialmagazine
EsplanadeFriends kickoff concert this Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park, 60 St and East River Waterfront. Free A la Mode ice cream and Motown music 🎶! @fullstackny @craftstudionyc @alamodeicecream @cb8manhattan @julmenin @carmen
EsplanadeFriends kickoff concert this Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park, 60 St and East River Waterfront. Free A la Mode ice cream and Motown music 🎶! @fullstackny @craftstudionyc @alamodeicecream @cb8manhattan @julmenin @carmencommunityartist @greenways4nyc @uesthings @uppereastsidernyc
Happy Earth Day weekend! Esplanade Friends joins CB11 and other neighborhood organizations for 3rd annual Earth Day Conference today Friday, April 19, 10-2 pm At Museum of City of New York. @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @greenandblueecocare @gre
Happy Earth Day weekend! Esplanade Friends joins CB11 and other neighborhood organizations for 3rd annual Earth Day Conference today Friday, April 19, 10-2 pm At Museum of City of New York. @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @greenandblueecocare @greenways4nyc
ECLIPSEanade! EcliPSeANADE! EcliSPeANADE! 🌘🌗🌒🌑 Eclipse on the Esplanade 😉 #eclipse #eclipse2024
Alice Aycock Pavilion at Andrew Haswell Green Park is closed until 4/25 for lighting installation. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @bkgreenway @suttonplacesocialmagazine
Alice Aycock Pavilion at Andrew Haswell Green Park is closed until 4/25 for lighting installation. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @bkgreenway @suttonplacesocialmagazine
EsplanadeFriends is partnering with East Harlem Tutorial Program for two days of crochet classes with Carmen Community Artist. Tuesday April 9 and 16, 4-6 pm at EHTP, 3050 2nd Ave at 105 St. sign up today to help add pieces to our crochet public art
EsplanadeFriends is partnering with East Harlem Tutorial Program for two days of crochet classes with Carmen Community Artist. Tuesday April 9 and 16, 4-6 pm at EHTP, 3050 2nd Ave at 105 St. sign up today to help add pieces to our crochet public art project! @carmencommunityartist @ehtpnyc @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @greenandblueecocare @bkgreenway
Happy April! As part of our spring public art project, EsplanadeFriends with phenom crochet artist Carmen Paulino will add these additional crochet flowers to the East Harlem Waterfront (next to the “We Care for Harlem,” mural). They will
Happy April! As part of our spring public art project, EsplanadeFriends with phenom crochet artist Carmen Paulino will add these additional crochet flowers to the East Harlem Waterfront (next to the “We Care for Harlem,” mural). They will debut at a launch event on Saturday, May 4. @carmencommunityartist @greenandblueecocare @manhattancb11 @cpfnyc @bkgreenway
Save the jobs of our unsung heroes - NYC Parks employees who maintain and clean our city’s parks and East River Esplanade with limited resources! @bkgreenway @nyccouncil @ny4p @justin.Brennan @speakeradams
Save the jobs of our unsung heroes - NYC Parks employees who maintain and clean our city’s parks and East River Esplanade with limited resources! @bkgreenway @nyccouncil @ny4p @justin.Brennan @speakeradams
Enjoying the Midtown Greenway on a springlike Friday afternoon! @esplanadefriend @ bkgreenway
Happy Daylight Savings on the Esplanade! Spring is less than 2 weeks away. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @carlschurzparkconservancy @cpfnyc
Happy Daylight Savings on the Esplanade! Spring is less than 2 weeks away. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @carlschurzparkconservancy @cpfnyc
Happy March! First crocus buds…can smell spring right around the corner. Photo courtesy of Jill Appel, Green Park Gardeners Subcommittee. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare
Happy March! First crocus buds…can smell spring right around the corner. Photo courtesy of Jill Appel, Green Park Gardeners Subcommittee. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare
Walking the new Midtown Greenway with EsplanadeFriends! Check out the new Phase 2 Andrew Haswell Green Park. @bkgreenway @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @alamodeicecream @cpfnyc @ny4p @carmencommunityartist
Walking the new Midtown Greenway with EsplanadeFriends! Check out the new Phase 2 Andrew Haswell Green Park. @bkgreenway @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @alamodeicecream @cpfnyc @ny4p @carmencommunityartist
New Yorkers deserve safe, clean, resilient green spaces like the East River Esplanade! Save our parks from the Mayor’s deep budget cuts. @NYCMayor’sinequitablebudgetcuts @bkgreenway @esplanadefriend @NYCCouncil @ny4p @voteshekar @justin
New Yorkers deserve safe, clean, resilient green spaces like the East River Esplanade! Save our parks from the Mayor’s deep budget cuts. @NYCMayor’sinequitablebudgetcuts @bkgreenway @esplanadefriend @NYCCouncil @ny4p @voteshekar @justin.brannan @nycspeakeradams @dc37nyc @NYCParkswillimpactNewYorkersineveryborough
Our first snow day of 2024 on the East River Esplanade! Be careful of the ice and slush! ❄️ @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @cpfnyc
Our first snow day of 2024 on the East River Esplanade! Be careful of the ice and slush! ❄️ @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @cpfnyc
Strolling on the new greenway with EsplanadeFriends #nyc #nycparksandrecreation #tourist #landscapearchitecture #eastriver
The spectacular EastMidtown Greenway on a brisk winter day! Check it out. @east72ndstreet @upper_east_cider @uptowngrandcentral @makemusicny @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @cpfnyc
The spectacular EastMidtown Greenway on a brisk winter day! Check it out. @east72ndstreet @upper_east_cider @uptowngrandcentral @makemusicny @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @cpfnyc
Signed sealed and delivered by fan favorite Noiz R and B band presented by EsplanadeFriends Conservancy at Andrew Haswell Green Park today Sat, April 27, 1-4 pm! @suttonplacesocialmagazine
Standing in line for free creamy delicious A La Mode ice cream today April 27 at Andrew Haswell Green Park. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @uppereastsidernyc Free ice cream and live Motown music today Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park! @cb8manhattan
Can’t wait until May 19 - the next @nycaudubon x @esplanadefriend free birding event!
Noiz R and B Band kicks off the EsplanadeFriends 2024 concert series this Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park! Free ice cream scoops and craft activities too! @craftstudio @fullstack @ suttonplacesocialmagazine
EsplanadeFriends kickoff concert this Saturday April 27, 1-4 pm at Andrew Haswell Green Park, 60 St and East River Waterfront. Free A la Mode ice cream and Motown music 🎶! @fullstackny @craftstudionyc @alamodeicecream @cb8manhattan @julmenin @carmen Happy Earth Day weekend! Esplanade Friends joins CB11 and other neighborhood organizations for 3rd annual Earth Day Conference today Friday, April 19, 10-2 pm At Museum of City of New York. @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @greenandblueecocare @gre
ECLIPSEanade! EcliPSeANADE! EcliSPeANADE! 🌘🌗🌒🌑 Eclipse on the Esplanade 😉 #eclipse #eclipse2024
Alice Aycock Pavilion at Andrew Haswell Green Park is closed until 4/25 for lighting installation. @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @bkgreenway @suttonplacesocialmagazine EsplanadeFriends is partnering with East Harlem Tutorial Program for two days of crochet classes with Carmen Community Artist. Tuesday April 9 and 16, 4-6 pm at EHTP, 3050 2nd Ave at 105 St. sign up today to help add pieces to our crochet public art Happy April! As part of our spring public art project, EsplanadeFriends with phenom crochet artist Carmen Paulino will add these additional crochet flowers to the East Harlem Waterfront (next to the “We Care for Harlem,” mural). They will Save the jobs of our unsung heroes - NYC Parks employees who maintain and clean our city’s parks and East River Esplanade with limited resources! @bkgreenway @nyccouncil @ny4p @justin.Brennan @speakeradams
Enjoying the Midtown Greenway on a springlike Friday afternoon! @esplanadefriend @ bkgreenway
Happy Daylight Savings on the Esplanade! Spring is less than 2 weeks away. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @carlschurzparkconservancy @cpfnyc Happy March! First crocus buds…can smell spring right around the corner. Photo courtesy of Jill Appel, Green Park Gardeners Subcommittee. @cb8manhattan @manhattancb11 @bkgreenway @greenandblueecocare Walking the new Midtown Greenway with EsplanadeFriends! Check out the new Phase 2 Andrew Haswell Green Park. @bkgreenway @cb8manhattan @greenandblueecocare @alamodeicecream @cpfnyc @ny4p @carmencommunityartist New Yorkers deserve safe, clean, resilient green spaces like the East River Esplanade! Save our parks from the Mayor’s deep budget cuts. @NYCMayor’sinequitablebudgetcuts @bkgreenway @esplanadefriend @NYCCouncil @ny4p @voteshekar @justin Our first snow day of 2024 on the East River Esplanade! Be careful of the ice and slush! ❄️ @manhattancb11 @uptowngrandcentral @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @greenandblueecocare @carmencommunityartist @cpfnyc
Strolling on the new greenway with EsplanadeFriends #nyc #nycparksandrecreation #tourist #landscapearchitecture #eastriver
The spectacular EastMidtown Greenway on a brisk winter day! Check it out. @east72ndstreet @upper_east_cider @uptowngrandcentral @makemusicny @cb8manhattan @uppereastsidernyc @cpfnyc

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