Earlier this week, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city has received a $7.25 million federal grant to expand the greenway network across the five boroughs, with a priority on serving historically underserved, lower-income communities. 

The funding is from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)  Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. The money will be used to fill gaps in New York City’s greenway network, improve cyclist and pedestrian safety with revitalized infrastructure, and provide green transportation options and greater waterfront access. The grant application was prepared by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), the New York City Parks Department (NYC Parks), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

“All New Yorkers deserve access to our beautiful greenways, and we’re making that happen thanks to millions in federal funding,” said Mayor Adams. “This grant will help us do the necessary planning to make the city greener and more bike-friendly in the communities that most need that infrastructure.”

This is New York City’s first comprehensive greenway vision plan in 30 years. The city will work to identify approximately five planned “Early Action” corridors across the five boroughs, with a priority for low- and moderate-income communities outside of Manhattan. As detailed by the Mayor’s Office, the corridors will undergo “robust planning studies” to prepare the projects for funding and implementation. The vision plan and corridor studies will involve a public engagement process, and they will be developed closely alongside communities and key stakeholders, including the NYC Greenways Coalition. The new corridors will complement NYCDOT’s on-street bike lanes and NYC Parks’ public open spaces by offering more opportunities for walking and cycling.

“Greenways provide connections between parks and serve as vital resources for recreation and transportation, and this grant funding will allow us to create the comprehensive plan needed to equitably improve and expand the greenway network citywide,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue.

This RAISE grant follows a $47.6 million investment by Mayor Adams to complete six projects that will improve existing greenway routes in central Queens and along Brooklyn’s southwest shoreline through NYC Parks’ Destination Greenways! plan. In addition, the city is working to fill five key gaps in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway in Inwood, Harlem, East Harlem, and East Midtown. The first of these projects, the East Midtown Greenway, from East 53rd Street to East 61st Street, is expected to be completed in 2023.