Section of East River Park reopens after being lifted to fight floods

One of the largest projects designed to protect Manhattan from a catastrophic flood has reached a new milestone with the opening of revamped parkland along the East River on the Lower East Side.

An overhauled section of East River Park that had been closed for nearly four years as part of a $1.5 billion flood protection project reopened this week. The refurbished sections are south of the Williamsburg Bridge, and feature new barbeque areas, basketball courts and green spaces. Contractors also planted about 600 new trees in the area.

Parts of the Lower East Side inland from the park were inundated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, with floodwaters creeping almost to nearby Tompkins Square Park. The Department of Design and Construction project faced significant pushback from some neighborhood residents, who protested the destruction of hundreds of trees to rebuild the park.

“This milestone marks another important step forward in the East Side Coastal Resiliency project,” Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said in a statement.

The new park has been lifted 8 to 10 feet higher, concealing a floodwall through its center. Once complete, the flood barrier will stretch for 2.4 miles from Montgomery Street to East 25th Street.

Key pedestrian bridges to the park have also been replaced as part of the project, including one at Delancey Street under the Williamsburg Bridge.

Parks officials say the northern portion of the park around East 10th Street is now closed. The entire project is expected to be done in 2027.

More green space in the southern portion of the park will reopen this summer, a parks official said.

"These new spaces reflect our commitment to climate readiness, while giving families, kids and residents of all ages more ways to enjoy their neighborhood," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.