East River Park facts for kids
East River Park, also known as John V. Lindsay East River Park, is a large public park in Manhattan, New York City. It covers about 57.5 acres (23.3 hectares) and is managed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The park stretches along the East River from Montgomery Street to 12th Street, next to the FDR Drive.
The park has many fun things to do. There's an amphitheater built in 1941, which is often used for public shows. You can find fields for football, baseball, and soccer. There are also courts for tennis, basketball, and handball. If you like to run or bike, there's a running track and bike paths, including the East River Greenway. Fishing is also a popular activity here. The park is split in half by the Williamsburg Bridge.
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History of East River Park
East River Park was first thought of in the early 1930s by Robert Moses. He was a very powerful city planner in New York. The park officially opened on July 27, 1939. Before it became a park, this area along the East River was a busy shipping yard. Later, it became home to many of the city's poorer residents.
When it opened, East River Park became the biggest green space on the Lower East Side. Over time, some parts of the park were used for other projects. For example, the FDR Drive was made wider, and South Street was extended. Even with these changes, the park remains a peaceful place for people living on the Lower East Side. It's especially nice in the summer because of the cool breezes from the river.
Caring for the Park
In 1998, the Lower East Side Ecology Center started helping to take care of the park. This local group focuses on protecting the environment. For 20 years, they have been looking after the park. Their offices and education center are inside the Fire Boat House, which is near the Williamsburg Bridge.
Every year, the Ecology Center works with thousands of volunteers. These volunteers help keep the park clean and beautiful. They tend to garden beds and plant native plants and bulbs. This helps make the park even better for everyone.
Rebuilding and Renaming
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the city decided to rebuild the park's amphitheater. It had become quite old and needed repairs. A new soccer field was also built at this time. Companies from all over the U.S. donated materials to help with the reconstruction. The project was finished very quickly. It was dedicated to children who had lost parents in the attacks.
In December 2001, East River Park was renamed. It was given the new name of John V. Lindsay East River Park. This was to honor John Lindsay, who used to be the Mayor of New York City.
Music and Events in the Park
In 2008, the City Parks Foundation started bringing free music, dance, and theater shows to the amphitheater. This was done to get more people from the nearby communities involved in making the park lively again. The first show was a music concert by the band Fiery Furnaces, which brought in 1,500 people. Other artists like KRS-One and Willie Colón also performed in 2008. Their concerts attracted even bigger crowds, with over 3,000 people attending.
Future Plans for the Park
East River Park is planned to be updated between late 2020 and 2025. This big project will involve raising the park by 8 to 10 feet (about 2.4 to 3 meters). The main reason for this is to protect the area from floods. This plan came about after the Lower East Side was flooded during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Original plans suggested closing the entire park from 2020 to 2023. However, after many protests from local residents, the plans were changed in late 2019. Now, the park will have a partial closure over five years instead of a full closure. This means parts of the park will still be open while other sections are being worked on.
Images for kids
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The walkway along the East River opened in 2010. The Williamsburg Bridge can be seen in the background.
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This walkway in the park runs next to the FDR Drive. It is being updated as part of the park's big renovation project.
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An aerial view of East River Park from 2017.
See also
In Spanish: East River Park para niños
