September 2011

Opening Access to the Bronx River

Canoers on the Bronx River.

With funding from The Trust in 2004, the Bronx River Alliance turned the idea of an 8-mile greenway along the Bronx River into a reality. The project connects the Bronx Zoo with River Park, Shoelace Park, Muskrat Cove (which opened in May 2008) and other points of entry along the length of the greenway.  Bronx residents and visitors can now get to parks, bike and pedestrian paths, and the water—where they can canoe and even commute. 

In 2007, we made a $50,000 grant to the Alliance for construction of the Bronx greenway, allowing the Alliance to coordinate and track the progress of six restoration projects and initiate the design process for seven other projects along the greenway.

The Alliance worked with the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation to complete the cleanup and redevelopment of a contaminated site that was occupied by a junkyard. It also worked with the City’s Department of Transportation to finalize design plans for amenities such as bike racks, lighting, and benches along the bicycle and pedestrian paths.

The Alliance held public meetings at community centers and libraries to promote the greenway and make the case for its completion. It also upgraded its website to inform the public about construction progress, community programs, and events along the river. As a result of the advocacy efforts, the Alliance received $200,000 from the City Council and a $600,000 grant from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund toward the construction of the greenway.