A parking lot that occupied a prime section of Manhattan's East River waterfront for over three decades will be transformed into a new public park. The 11,000-square-foot space at the end of East 34th Street is scheduled to open to the public in 2026, marking a significant victory for community advocates who have long pushed for more accessible green space in the area.
Key Takeaways
- An 11,000-square-foot parking lot at East 34th Street will be converted into a public park.
- The space, previously used for hospital parking for over 30 years, will open in 2026.
- The new park will include fitness equipment, community gathering furniture, and a waterfront design.
- The project is a result of sustained efforts by local community groups to reclaim public land.
From Cars to Community Space
For more than 30 years, the city-owned plot of land at the eastern end of 34th Street served as a stacked car storage facility for the nearby NYU Langone hospital. Its location, just south of an NYC Ferry stop, offers prime views of the East River, a resource that was largely inaccessible to the public.
Following the expiration of the hospital's parking lease in 2023, local advocates, led by Manhattan's Community Board 6 (CB6), successfully lobbied city agencies to reclaim the land for public use. The decision represents a shift in urban planning priorities, prioritizing people over vehicles in a densely populated neighborhood.
"For over 30 years, this 11,000-square-foot lot was a park for cars. It's now on its way to becoming a park for people," said Sandy McKee, the chair of Community Board 6. "[We're] turning a publicly owned resource that benefited the few into something that will soon benefit everyone."
Details of the New Park
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which manages the property, is overseeing the transformation. While a final design has not yet been released, officials have confirmed the park's key features.
The new public amenity is set to include fitness equipment, dedicated furniture for community gatherings, and a design that complements its waterfront location. The goal is to create a versatile space that serves the recreational and social needs of local residents and visitors.
Project at a Glance
- Location: Eastern terminus of East 34th Street, Manhattan
- Size: 11,000 square feet
- Previous Use: Hospital parking lot (30+ years)
- Opening Date: 2026
- Planned Features: Fitness equipment, seating areas, waterfront access
A 'Temporary' but Lasting Change
Andrew Kimball, President and CEO of the EDC, noted that the park's initial configuration is considered "temporary." This is due to extensive, long-term infrastructure and resiliency work planned for the surrounding waterfront over the next several decades.
However, Kimball reassured the community of the project's longevity. "We are very confident that the park we build out here... the open space we build out here, the access to amenities, access to the water recreation exercise equipment, will be here for a very, very long time," he stated.
Addressing a Greenway Gap
The conversion of the 34th Street lot is part of a larger effort to improve public access along Manhattan's East Side. Unlike the continuous and expansive greenway along the Hudson River on the West Side, the East River waterfront is characterized by a patchwork of disconnected parks and paths, frequently interrupted by the FDR Drive.
The East Side's Fragmented Waterfront
For years, residents and urban planners have highlighted the disparity in public green space between Manhattan's east and west sides. The East Side's waterfront is often cut off by the FDR Drive, leaving communities with limited access to the river. Projects like this one aim to slowly stitch together a more cohesive and accessible green corridor.
Kyle Athayde, a former CB6 chair, emphasized the importance of this project in the broader context. "When we think about the East Midtown Greenway and all the lack of green space that we have, and really connecting that to the rest of the district is really, really important to us," he explained.
A Precedent for Future Projects
Community advocates hope this successful conversion sets a precedent for other underutilized, city-owned spaces. Community Board 6 has already identified another target: a paid parking lot located under the FDR Drive at East 23rd Street, adjacent to Stuyvesant Cove Park.
The board has previously commissioned a study to explore repurposing the space beneath the elevated highway, drawing inspiration from projects like "The Bentway" in Toronto, which transformed the area under an expressway into a vibrant public space.
With the nearby East Side Coastal Resiliency project approaching completion, community leaders see a new opportunity to push for further parkland conversions. "It seems like a perfect opportunity," McKee said, expressing optimism that the city will reconsider the 23rd Street lot. The EDC has indicated a willingness to review the proposal, signaling potential for more waterfront land to be returned to the public in the future.