Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, and DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman today announced plans to rehabilitate John Finley Walk, the promenade above the FDR Drive between E. 81st and E. 90th streets. The $80 million project will bring needed state of good repair improvements to the 1930s top-level structure.
“Investing in parks and open space is critical as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “Repairing John Finley Walk’s infrastructure will ensure all New Yorkers continue to have access to this open space for walking, running, biking and more.”
“Our public spaces are critical to the health of our city, and their restoration is critical to our City’s comeback,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development for Vicki Been. “We are proud to announce this investment to rehabilitate the John Finley Walk, a well-loved, waterfront promenade in the Upper East Side. With this investment, we hope that it can serve many generations of New Yorkers!”
“John Finley Walk is a treasured part of Carl Schurz Park and an important link to the East River Esplanade, and this project will provide upgrades and make needed repairs to the 80-year-old structure,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FACIP. “Thanks to funding from Mayor de Blasio and project management by the experts at DOT, the promenade will continue to connect the Upper East Side community to the waterfront for decades to come.”
"As New York City reopens and recovers, we must continue investing in the open spaces that we all love, including our incomparable waterfront,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. "Finley Walk, so popular with Upper East Side pedestrians, runners, and cyclists, is a gem -- and the funding the Mayor has announced today will extend its life by decades, as well as make it safer and more welcoming. We are always excited to work alongside our partners at NYC Parks, and we thank Council Member Ben Kallos and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney for their tireless advocacy of this project."
The project, which is being managed by the Department of Transportation on behalf of NYC Parks, will implement structural repairs to the underside of the deck, repair walls along the roadway, and replace concrete girders. It will also make important upgrades, eliminating uneven surfaces, improving drainage, replacing the pedestrian railings, and replacing street lighting and benches along the entire span.
Parks and DOT plan to present information to Community Board 8 on June 10. The full project details and timeline will be determined during the design process.
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