Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced a re-imagining of the East River waterfront today.
The East River Blueway Plan, created with residents, architecture and urban design experts and the Lower East Side Ecology Center,focuses on the waterfront from Brooklyn Bridge to East 38th Street.
Along with preventing such storm damage as experienced during Sandy, itincludes new bike paths, beaches and boating spots.
“The plan we are unveiling opens up the waterfront, but also protects the community with wave barriers, wetlands and other safeguards,” Stringer said.
Stringer’s office pledged $3.5 million to find new ways to mitigate storm problems along FDR Drive.
The plan extends wetlands from the shoreline and adds drainage beneath the highway, which officials say will absorb storm water surge.
It would also fortify the shoreline beneath the Brooklyn Bridge.
Under the plan, people could boat in the East River in a portion unaffected by tidal currents, he said.
