This week’s summer kickoff has brought a wave of excitement, but the scorching heat also highlights a frustrating reality for Upper East Side residents: another season has begun without access to the East River Esplanade.
This marks the fourth summer in a row that a section of the Esplanade—between East 70th and 78th Streets—has been closed, leaving locals fuming as they try to navigate the ongoing construction project, which has missed several completion deadlines.
The closure is expected to last until 2026, despite initial promises made over two years ago.
“This is just insane,” says Jennifer Ratner, who leads The Friends of the East River Esplanade. “They claim it’s too costly, but honestly, that’s not my concern. They need to make this better and ensure the waterfront continues to be inviting… it’s not rocket science.”
Originally, the closure began back in 2021, intended to facilitate a development by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) involving a new 12-story tower on FDR Drive at 71st Street, which was supposed to blend with the existing structures.
In exchange for shutting down the space, HSS vowed to improve the seven-block area.
The future Anna Maria and Stephen Keren Towers are set to cover 100,000 square feet and expand the hospital’s capacity by 25%. However, construction has faced setbacks, including the discovery of three sinkholes in the area.
While the tower’s opening is slated for Fall 2024, residents had hoped to see the Esplanade reopen in 2023 as work wrapped up. Those hopes were quickly dashed.
Communications from last July suggested HSS would aim for a summer 2025 reopening, but that timeline has since shifted again.
The construction site now appears chaotic, with exposed wooden boards and overgrown plants where improvements were promised.
Ratner notes that the relationship between the community and HSS has soured over the past few months.
“If you’re in areas like Westside or Brooklyn Bridge Park—heck, even in small cities—you can go out, ride bikes, walk with strollers… not anymore, though.”
Residents express that closed roads seriously impact their quality of life.
Pedestrians now find themselves redirected for nearly half a mile through congested streets, while cyclists have to venture a block further to access bike lanes.
Moreover, detours are poorly marked, leaving many unsure of how to navigate the tangled mess of construction fencing. City Parks is reportedly promising to install clearer signs soon, responding to a commitment made back in April.
“We have so few options now. This used to be a lovely, quiet place for our family. We can’t even bike safely anymore; it’s really concerning.”
With limited green spaces in the community, Gerson, a local resident, reflects on how her family lives about 30 minutes from Central Park, missing the open areas where her son could play.
“It’s just really frustrating. They keep pushing back their deadlines each year, so I can’t see this opening anytime soon.”
After speaking with a reporter, Gerson headed to ride her bike down York Avenue, only to nearly face a car collision.
HSS maintains that their new timeline for reopening the Esplanade will be announced soon.
Repair work between East 70th and 73rd Avenues is set to commence in August, aiming for completion by March.
However, there’s still no clear word on when the remaining sections will reopen, as HSS continues to address the ongoing sinkhole repairs.
“We understand the community’s frustration and share the desire to restore this vital green space. The Esplanade is an important public asset, and we are committed to its long-term improvement. We appreciate the community’s patience and ongoing advocacy,” an HSS representative stated.
“To address the delays, we will incur costs exceeding $400,000 to fund enhancements to the Esplanade. Currently, our focus is on improving lighting at Andrew Haskell Green Park and collaborating with local parks and city officials on future enhancement projects during the ongoing closure.”
