WATERFRONT PLAN

132nd Street + Lincoln Avenue 

The main element of this project is the use of green infrastructure and nature-based strategies to restore waterfront access at two sites: The Lincoln Avenue Street End overlooking Harlem River, and the 132nd Street End overlooking East River. The locations were strategically identified to represent two ends of the broader Waterfront Plan, with the goal of catalyzing further waterfront access. The roads leading to the sites are city-owned, which is critical to be able to realize these projects within the three-year timeline.

The Lincoln Avenue Street End Project will help create safer and more welcoming public access to the waterfront while improving pedestrian safety. Building on recent street safety upgrades by the NYC Department of Transportation, this project will make Lincoln Avenue—a key neighborhood street—safer and more accessible for the many people who use it every day. Lincoln Avenue connects to several major streets and serves thousands of residents, including those living in the Mitchel and Patterson NYCHA developments and the many small businesses along 138th Street. At the waterfront end of the street, improvements are especially important to protect against climate risks and ensure a safe, inviting space for the community.

The planned improvements aim to make Lincoln Avenue safer, greener, and more welcoming for the community:

  • Expanding efforts to open the Lincoln Avenue street end for public recreation and future waterfront access. This includes creating connections to an Eco Dock and laying the groundwork for a future bio barge.

  • Enhancing pedestrian safety at Lincoln Avenue with new crosswalk improvements and above-ground tree planters as part of a “Walking Forest”.

  • Adding green infrastructure to help manage heat and flooding. This includes bioswales, more planted areas, new street trees, and rewilding Graham Triangle to absorb stormwater and cool the neighborhood.

  • Creating a 500-square-foot green gathering space at the shoreline. This area will serve as a community hub for social gatherings and environmental monitoring, sitting at the crossroads of Lincoln Avenue’s pedestrian corridor and the nearby industrial activity from CSX, Waste Management, and other operators.

The 132nd Street project builds on more than a decade of community advocacy to create a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable waterfront for South Bronx residents. The improvements are shaped by the voices and needs of the community, aiming to bring their vision to life while addressing long-standing environmental and safety challenges.

The project will include:

  • Green Infrastructure for Heat and Flood Mitigation – Adding bioswales, more planted areas, and street trees to absorb stormwater, reduce flooding, and help cool the neighborhood.

  • Better Pedestrian and Bike Access – Widening sidewalks, improving crosswalks, building bike lanes, and introducing shared streets to make walking and biking safer. Bus shelters will also be installed to improve public transit access.

  • Safer Streets – Redesigning the roadway to slow truck traffic and reduce conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists.

  • Placemaking and Safety Enhancements – Installing public art, better street lighting, and underpass lighting to create a safer and more welcoming public space.

  • Waterfront Access – Building a deck and barge at 132nd Street to provide recreational space and make the waterfront more accessible.

  • Water Quality and Ecosystem Improvements – Restoring the shoreline and creating oyster reefs to clean the water and support local marine life.