In January 2024, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Parks opened the East Midtown Greenway (EMG), a new open space for bicyclists and pedestrians built over the East River. The EMG features three primary components: the top-level bike path and walkway, an in-water structure, and a pedestrian bridge connecting East Midtown to the Greenway. Running 2,000 feet in length, the EMG provides distinct features along the way, like a gathering area with stepped and bar seating at the pedestrian bridge landing; a spot to view the remnants of the rocky shore; a bike overlook for cyclists taking a pause; a rocky scramble with stepped seats; and a lush, varied planting profile.
Stantec, an international landscape architecture firm, was selected to design the EMG, a process that began in 2017 with a budget of $100 million. The construction aspect was awarded to international construction firm Skanska by the NYCEDC in 2019. The two coordinated extensively with numerous city agencies while providing landscape architecture, project management, civil engineering, waterfront engineering, structural engineering, public art coordination, traffic engineering, electrical engineering, and communication systems design.

Pushing Design and Engineering Limits
The in-water structure was designed to support a heavy load of topsoil and large trees while also capturing stormwater to sustain the landscape. Original concept plans called for box beams running laterally; however, as the Landscape Architects looked to maximize the environment on the top side of the structure, the structural team's goal of maintaining a slim profile was challenged.

Through creative collaboration, a solution was devised that allowed for greater plant density without sacrificing a streamlined structure. Tub girders were identified as an opportunity to add more soil depth to accommodate the 60 large trees and 1,000 cubic feet of necessary soil without increasing the depth of the structure. The tub girders were stepped to accommodate soil volumes and support large trees where necessary while maintaining an appearance of a slimmer profile. Under the bicycle path, soil cells provide lateral root volume and support to prevent settlement. Trench drains along the structure's edge capture stormwater to naturally irrigate plantings.

 

Soils and Silva Cells
Donna Walcavage, PLA at Stantec, refers to the EMG as an on-structure linear park and says that "resilience and sustainability were fundamental to the design of the project." Chief objectives of the project included incorporating significant planting and planning ahead.

"Although the structure is narrow, it was critically important to provide lush planting and generous shade along the full length of the Greenway," said Amy Seek, PLA at Stantec, who led the landscape design of the project. However, as compaction increases to support the pavement, soil fertility and plant response decrease. DeepRoot Green Infrastructure's Silva Cells were chosen to address this issue, as they simultaneously provide uncompacted soil volume for the trees and on-site stormwater collection of the hardscape runoff. Seek added, "We coordinated with our engineers to design a structure that could support mature trees and associated soil volume. Silva Cells allowed us to utilize the width of the structure beneath the bikeway for needed soil volume."

Paving along the Greenway
The Greenway has two basic paving treatments throughout its length. The first is a strip of poured-in-place concrete for bicycle and light vehicular access, which is necessary for transportation and maintenance needs. The other is the asphaltic hexagonal pavers that have been a hallmark of New York City parks for generations. Every effort was made by the design team to save and recycle older hexagonal pavers from the adjacent Sutton Place Park, which was altered to allow access to the Greenway. New hexagonal asphaltic pavers in three shades of gray were provided by Wausau Tile and installed in a naturalistic pattern.

A Bit of Biology
Other hex pavers were designed with a new artistic and scientific twist, inspired by organisms called diatoms that are invisible to the naked eye. These microscopic organisms drift in water everywhere - thousands are found in one teaspoon. Single-celled and photosynthetic, they supply oxygen to the river fauna and the atmosphere. Diatoms are celebrated on the patterned, interlocking concrete pavers that create an artistic installation called 'Diatom Lace.'
Five thousand embossed concrete pavers, designed by Stacy Levy to show the gorgeous architecture of the diatoms, were placed along the pedestrian portion of the Greenway. Levy worked with Stantec to create a piece of art that compliments the park's paving pattern. It was imperative that the artwork not impair the surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists. It was also designed to provoke curiosity, add texture and beauty, and educate passersby through a modern, ecological perspective. Pedestrians can enjoy the intricate architecture of the diatoms that live in the river water nearby and learn about them from the educational signage placed at periodic intervals.

Creating a Diversified Experience
By incorporating diverse plantings, rock structures, and areas for respite, the design team cultivated a setting that offers a new experience every few steps along the Greenway. The opening of this park marks another step towards filling in the gaps of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, whose 1,000-acre, 32.5-mile greenway loop will be bigger than Central Park once complete. The project was typified by a collaborative design process that involves people from different fields, including civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, soil science, and art. This approach set the project up for success from the get-go, as designers were more aware of the whole picture. Their success is evidenced by the throngs of people enjoying the well-thought-out and striking greenway on its first summer of use.

"Cities across the world are looking for ways to become more bikeable and walkable, but new pathways and corridors can also be places people want to be in and of themselves," said Nicole Ogrosso, project manager at Stantec. "The East Midtown Greenway offers just that-a unique waterfront experience that is both beautiful and parklike."

Sean Szatkowski, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska USA Building, said, "We are delighted to have once again partnered with EDC to deliver a project that not only transforms New York City's waterfront into a fun, vibrant, and attractive place for residents and visitors to spend their time, but also strengthens our city's coastline."