Mayor de Blasio released his $98.6 billion budget on Monday, a plan focused on economic recovery after Covid.

Among the nine-figure lines parsed out for everything from education to healthcare was a whopping $723 million commitment to completing the Manhattan Greenway, a 32-mile waterfront ped and bike path wrapping the island.

As it stands, considerable stretches of the greenway are already in place or under construction, this includes the popular 11-mile Hudson River bike path (seen in the image above); the 9.5-mile East River Esplanade; and the nine-block East Midtown Greenway extension which restarted construction in October 2020 and will open in 2023.

However, numerous gaps still exist along the span.

Concept rendering of Harlem River Greenway Link view toward RFK Bridge | NYC EDC

The plan put forward Monday would fill these holes and generate more than 1,000 acres of new public space (in all, larger than Central Park) for New Yorkers. Areas under the plan include:

  • Inwood: Harlem River waterfront from Sherman Creek to University Heights Bridge ($307 million budgeted)
  • Harlem & Washington Heights: Harlem River waterfront from 145th St to Highbridge Park ($170 million budgeted)
  • UN Esplanade: East River waterfront from 41st to 53rd Streets at the United Nations ($117 million budgeted)
  • East River Pinch Point: A bridge over 13th and 15th streets in the East Village ($129 million budgeted)

The city reports that the cost to complete the project rings in so high due to the complexities of bridging the gaps at the points above. These difficulties have also hampered progress on the greenway, which has been in the works since the mid-2000s. 

Conceptual rendering looking south near East 48th Street at the United Nations | NYC EDC

Design and procurement will begin this year with construction starting in 2023. The greenway is expected to be fully functional by 2029.

"This is a great investment in the future of this city and something I think will be deeply used by future generations," said Mayor de Blasio.

De Blasio's budget covers the 2022 fiscal year and now awaits City Council approval. Bolstered by a $14 billion infusion from the Biden administration, at $98.6 billion it is the largest budget ever proposed for NYC.

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