Access to the Bronx waterfront is getting a huge boost from the Department of Transportation. DNAinfo reports that the agency has awarded the city a $10 million grant that will go towards building a riverfront pathway between Concrete Plant Park and its infinitely more bucolic-sounding northern neighbor, Starlight Park. The funds will also go towards building two pedestrian and bike bridges; one at East 172nd Street over the Amtrak line and one near the intersection of Westchester and Bronx River avenues. Once the new connections are created, there will be nearly two miles of continuous pathway along the Bronx River, from Bruckner Boulevard to East 177th Street.
"It's a very big step. It does get us a really connected path and a really big open gateway for Bronx residents who live east of the greenway in the Soundview neighborhood," Bronx River Alliance Executive Director Linda Cox told DNAinfo. The mayor and other agencies have agreed to match the DOT's commitment. The first phase of construction should start in June, and wrap-up around 2020 if all goes according to the Bronx River Alliance's plan.
· $10M to Be Spent Increasing Access to Bronx River [DNAinfo]
· All Bronx River coverage [Curbed]
· All Bronx River Alliance coverage [Curbed]