Our History
Milestones of community advocacy, action, & visioning for a reimagined waterfront for the East side of Manhattan
1980
George Murphy funded the Asphalt Green Community Center. Rose Blaustein ran an environmental center on the fire boathouse pier that included taking teachers visiting the program out on boats.
1999
East River CREW (ERC) lobbies CB8 for use of fireboat house pier for launching traditional rowboats of NYC harbor. After destruction through arson & storms of fireboat pier, with ERC sponsorship, CB8 passes a resolution for the rebuilding of the fire boathouse pier to its original footprint.
2001
ERC moves its focus to the old ferry pier at E. 90th St. In response, CB8 designates the E. 90th Pier for passive recreation only. Also, the Yankee ferry is brought to the pier, but CB8 declines ANY additional money be spent by the EDC to rehabilitate the pier so that homeless people, extra traffic or garbage is kept from the pier. ERCs efforts to secure space under the FDR are unsuccessful after 9/11 event makes all agencies nervous about access to publicly trafficked space.
2002
East River CREW volunteers offer rowing annually when they can row up ad back to Red Hook where boats are stored for free. Go-Fish festivals are held to provide education and fun for the public in between rowing. The community's hopes & dreams for the space are heard and collected regularly during these events.
2006
After working with deputy chief of operations at Parks, ERC is able to install a davit at E. 96th St. and a container behind Stanley Isaacs so we can offer free rowing to the community. "It's My Park Day" (IMPD) events focusing on the upper esplanade begin.
2007
Lappin & Maloney from the East River Esplanade Task Force. Their first meeting gathers the vision of a required and beautiful esplanade that offers concessions and relaxation. Friends of the East River Esplanade Conservancy (EsplanadeFriends) is created to address needs from 60th - 125th St. EsplanadeFriends begins gathering dreams and hopes of passer-bys through visioning projects.
2011
East River CREW publishes the Estuary Guide to inform the public of what lives below the surface of the river and humans impact on it. Lappin secures $900,000 from city council to repair potholes. Civitas launches its design contest and a community engagement study with NYU Wagner School of 400 residents-- 40% decry public access to water.
2012
Rockefeller University supports renewal of esplanade as part of its expansion project. Civitas holds three visioning meetings with CB11. Hurricane Sandy brings attention to the waterfront.
2013
EsplanadeFriends participates in DeBlasio's "Talking Transition" civic engagement project that surveys New Yorkers and formally solicits their ideas. NYC Parks Department conducts an underwater survey of the infrastructure conditions along the esplanade.
2014
Hunter College School of Urban Affairs & Planning publishes Greening the Gap after multiple visioning sessions. New Yorkers for Parks publishes East Harlem Open Space Index that catalogues and documents the current state of affairs. EsplanadeFriends develops and shares Pier 107 visuals.
2015
DeBlasio allots $35 million in budget for esplanade renewal. Civitas publishes visioning plan for East River Esplanade East River CREW partners with Eagle Scout project to create a Junior Estuary Ranger program. EsplanadeFriends participates in the East Harlem Rezoning Open Space Workshops that determine the waterfront as a priority. This groups conducts extensive visioning and brainstorming and contributes to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The state allocates $3 million for the re-invention of Pier 107.
2016
East River CREW tries again to secure permission to use the empty space under the FDR ramp at E. 96th St. so that it can serve more community members. DCAS & DOT determine the space is unavailable for lease at this time though there is no evidence of anyone using it, and Civitas presents them with precedents throughout the city for use of space under FDR. CB8 supports funding repairs to Esplanade. EsplanadeFriends secures permanent opening of Pier 90. RIPA commits $250,000 to the east Harlem side of the river beginning with a contact with WXY visioning strategic initiative.