Riverside Park

Parks Breaks Ground At Riverside Park’s Serpentine Promenade

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Member Gale Brewer, State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, District Manager of Community Board 7 Penny Ryan, Riverside Park Fund President James Dowell, Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro and Riverside Park Administrator K.C. Sahl to break ground on the reconstruction of the Serpentine Promenade at Riverside Park, extending from West 83rd Street to West 91st Street.

With an allocation of $1.5 million from Council Member Brewer and $178,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, Parks is removing all of the existing deteriorated concrete pavement and replacing it with asphalt. New benches, curbs and a western fence will be installed. Views of the Hudson River will be enhanced. Bluestone pavement and asphalt hex block pavement will be installed at the octagonal plaza.

"The Serpentine Promenade at Riverside Park was originally constructed during the Moses-era of expansion. Now that we have embarked on another citywide era of park expansion, it is appropriate that the Promenade from West 83rd Street to West 91st Street is being reconstructed," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Park visitors will soon enjoy improved surfaces, new benches and restored views of the Hudson River. I am grateful to Mayor Bloomberg and Council Member Brewer for generously allocating $1.68 million for this important renovation."

This is the first reconstruction of the Serpentine Promenade since it was originally built in 1937. At that time, under the leadership of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, designers Gilmore D. Clarke and Clinton Lloyd extended the Park to the Hudson River, spanning both sides of the newly created Henry Hudson Parkway. The Promenade was constructed directly on top of the New York Central Railway tunnel and took advantage of the views of the Manhattan waterfront.

In conceiving this redesign, Parks Designer Margaret Bracken incorporates several elements included in Clarke and Lloyd’s original 1937 design drawings, such as the asphalt and bluestone pavements.

Know Before You Go

Riverside Park

West 79th Street Boat Basin

Riverside Park (79th Street)