East Side Coastal Resiliency: East River Park Stewardship Study

This two-mile section of NYC waterfront - The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project - is the first phase of the ‘Big U’, designed to reduce the risk of flooding and provide coastal protection and community infrastructure for neighborhoods adjacent to the park. On behalf of Rebuild by Design, JLP+D, in collaboration with the Trust for Public Land, investigated possible long-term stewardship structures to enhance initial government capital investments, engage in design and programming for the new park, and build local capacity for supporting the long-term operations and maintenance of the park. JLP+D researched creative partnerships between city agencies and parks, analyzed current and future uses of the site, conducted stakeholder interviews, and generated programming ideas and funding strategies for producing sustainable revenues for the park.

With the primary goals of enhancing long-term stewardship of the park and addressing issues of equity, the TPL/JLP+D team provided recommendations to unify local stakeholders and establish a single entity to oversee and support the continued and new uses and operations of the park. While the study is focused on opportunities specific to this site, the findings can be used to inform future Rebuild by Design and other resiliency work in local, national, and international contexts.