Riverside Park north of 120th Street has seen years of neglect and disinvestment, which has led to great disparities in amenities, cleanliness, and overall conditions between the Park’s northern and southern tiers.
We are determined to address that – so in 2009, we created our North Park Initiative to focus time, advocacy, and resources on the part of the Park serving West Harlem from 120th to 155th Streets, as well as the shoreline portion of Fort Washington Park through 181st Street, which serves Washington Heights. Those areas are home to communities that are predominantly Black or Latinx, who experience poverty rates three times greater than the Upper West Side.
We are determined to address the way that systemic lack of investment in non-white and low-income neighborhoods has impacted our public parks. As part of our North Park Initiative, and our overall mission, we continue improving conditions in Riverside Park to provide all of our neighbors with the benefits that come along with living in close proximity to top quality parkland.
But we need to do so much more. Rather than hold a traditional gala in 2020, we are asked our neighbors to step up to do something meaningful to address this serious park equity issue, and to help us bridge the gap. We set a goal of 400 donors toward our North Park Initiative in 2020 – one for each acre of parkland we care for – and exceeded the goal by several hundred supporters.
Our work is nowhere near finished, and we continue focusing staff time and resources north of 120th Street – and advocating for more City investment into structural improvements.
Recent Updates:
We restored a full acre of shoreline at 165th Street, opening up spectacular views and adding new plants.
A new metal fence was installed at Riverside Valley Community Garden (“Jenny’s Garden”), replacing an earlier wire mesh version that was prone to vandalism funded by a private donor.
A pollinator meadow was recently established at 173rd Street to enhance biodiversity, reestablish native plants and promote and protect pollinators and birds, providing habitat and food sources for them.
In October, a funding announcement came from Council Member Shaun Abreu and Speaker Adrienne Adams offices, allocating $7.4 million for bathroom renovations at Ten Mile playground.
A new outdoor fitness area installed at 151st Street features state-of-the-art equipment. Designed and engineered in Switzerland, the machines offer a variety of activities designed for all abilities, fostering cardio, mobility, and balance. Riverside Park is the company’s first installation site in the United States. The equipment was donated by the company, and the installation was made possible by private donors.
Goatham is moving to North Park this year. In July, our herd of goats will take up residence in our newly built goat enclosure between 143rd and 145th Streets. This will not only help tackle the invasive weeds in this section of the park, the goats’ perennial popularity with the press and public will shine a new spotlight on the area.
North Park Initiative Accomplishments
- Added professional gardening staff
- Worked alongside a neighborhood volunteer user group to secure funding for the City to formalize the 142nd Street Dog Run
- Partnered with the West Harlem Development Corporation and engaged youth from Community District 9 in urban park management as part of our Teen Corps Program
- Successfully advocated for the City to invest $4.1 million in repaving funds, which will include the areas around 148th Street
- Hosted free public programming at West Harlem Piers Park, 148th Street waterfront, the 172nd Street waterfront, and the Little Red Lighthouse at 181st Street
- Partnered with Natural Areas Conservancy to conduct assessments and develop management plans for the forested areas at 146th–151st Streets, and around 181st Street
- Began managing the concession to teach tennis at the 172nd Street courts, and revenues generated will be invested back into the area
Future Goals
- Increase professional gardening staff north of 120th Street
- Further improve the park entrances at 148th, 151st, and 158th Street
- Repair and continue ongoing maintenance of 148th Street baseball fields
- Concession at 151st Street entrance
- Complete renovation and add restroom at 10 Mile River Playground at 148th Street
- 158th Street basketball court resurfacing and solution for drainage issues
- Add restroom at Discovery Playground
- Deliver adult exercise equipment, additional picnic tables, and a bicycle education center
- Resurface tennis courts at 172nd Street
- Repair or replace broken benches on Riverside Drive
- Replace the fence and repair dangerous paving conditions from 120th Street to 125th Street
- Repair drainage infrastructure on Riverside Drive at 138th Street
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¡Haga clic aquí para tomar la encuesta del parque de norte en Español!
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