The document provides an overview of a public presentation about plans to revitalize the Harlem River waterfront in the Bronx. The presentation discusses: (1) the history and current state of disconnection between the river and surrounding communities; (2) an overall master plan to create better access to the river through new paths, celebrate existing infrastructure like bridges, restore the river's ecology, and have pop-up community events; and (3) four priority site proposals - improving High Bridge and Depot Place, activating Macombs Dam Park, creating a water park at Pier 5, and enhancing access at Lincoln Avenue. The goal is to reconnect residents to the underutilized waterfront asset.

1. BRONX, MEET YOUR WATERFRONT
Public Presentation | May 18 , 2011
th

2. Agenda
1 History and Future of the
Harlem River Waterfront
2 The Overall (Master) Plan
3 Four Priority Site Proposals

3. History and Future of the
Harlem River Waterfront

4. The Harlem River is an 8-mile stretch of water that connects
the East River with the Hudson, Manhattan with the Bronx

5. Most residents in the
Bronx don’t feel like it’s a
part of their neighborhood

6. Major Deegan Expressway
The Bronx has been seen as a thoroughfare

7. High Bridge
A place of superhuman infrastructure built along what was the
most open public space – the water

8. Pedestrian bridge to nowhere
Designed for machines and not humans to access

9. Mill Pond Park
The river has been an afterthought

10. er
m Riv
4.5
Roberto miles
Harle
Clemente Park
River Park Towers
Washington
Alexander Bridge
Hamilton
Bridge
High Bridge

11. Existing conditions
4.5
Roberto
miles Clemente
Park
1 - 3 - Poor - Few
Lincoln
Avenue

12. Existing conditions
Harlem River 4.5
Roberto
Community Rowing miles Clemente
Park
1 - 3 - Poor - Few
1 place to get on the water Lincoln
Avenue

13. Existing conditions
4.5
Roberto
miles Clemente
Park
Depot
Place
(proposed)
1 - 3 - Poor - Few
Mill Pond
Park
Mill Pond Park
3 public open spaces near the water Lincoln
Avenue

14. Existing conditions
4.5
Roberto
miles Clemente
Park
1 - 3 - Poor - Few
Poor pathways from people to existing Lincoln
waterfront destinations
Avenue

15. Existing conditions
4.5
Roberto
miles Clemente
Park
1 - 3 - Poor - Few
Few residents who view the Harlem River Lincoln
as part of their neighborhood
Avenue

16. It wasn’t always like this
Fishing
The Harlem River, 1852

17. Waterfront access
The Harlem River, 1890

18. The Harlem River, 1890 The Harlem River, date unknown
Working waterfront

19. The Harlem River, 1902 Community boat race

20. While we can’t easily undo the past,
we can make targeted investments
for the future
BRONX, MEET YOUR
WATERFRONT PLAN

21. Previous Bronx Harlem River reports
We started by building on the work that came before

22. Students within 1 mile of Lincoln Avenue
We collected some data

23. Harlem River waterfront edge analysis
We did some analysis (paralysis)

24. Stormwater run-off calculation
We did some math

25. Pedestrian bridge
We did some walking of the community and where possible the
We met with leaders
general

26. Under the Major Deegan
We may have gone to some places perhaps we
shouldn’t have gone (to find new possibilities!) leaders
We shared sandwiches with community

27. Boar’s Head in Harlem
River Park Towers
We shared sandwiches with community leaders

28. Drawings on trace paper in the MIT studio
Based on what we learned and heard, we did
some sketching
We shared sandwiches with community leaders

29. MIT Bronx studio
. . . and re-imagination

30. Mid-review meeting with representatives of the Harlem River Working Group in March
Throughout this process, we tried (as best we could) to work
closely with partners in the community

31. BRONX,MEETYOUR
WATERFRONTPLAN
Theme 1. Create more obvious paths to destinations along
the water

32. Theme 2. Find creative ways to re-use and celebrate
existing infrastructure (like bridges!)
BRONX,MEETYOUR
WATERFRONTPLAN

33. Theme 3. Restore the
river’s natural ecology
by cleaning the water
(where possible and
appropriate)
The Harlem River, 1890
BRONX,MEETYOUR
WATERFRONTPLAN

34. Theme 4. Pop-up
events for residents to
gather and re-imagine
their waterfront
The Harlem River, 1890
BRONX,MEETYOUR
WATERFRONTPLAN

35. The Overall (Master) Plan

36. 4.5
miles

37. 4.5
miles

38. 4.5
miles
Today

39. 4.5
miles
Future

40. 4.5
miles
Future

42. Four Priority Site
Proposals

43. Priority Areas HB! HIGH BRIDGE & DEPOT PLACE
Pedestrian only bridge across Innovative
Harlem River with amazing
views, opening to public in 2013
entrances to the
bridge and to the High
Bridge community
4.5
Roberto
miles Clemente
Park MD! MACOMBS DAM PARK-IT PLACE
HB! Significant paved space Low-cost,
adjacent to largest regional
flexible hard space
Depot destination in the area with
Place
Heritage field opening in 2012 for pop-up food
(proposed)
and tailgating
P5! PIER 5 WATER PARK
Largest available soft space Natural patch
along the waterfront adjacent to with flexible soft
existing amenity (Mill Pond
Park) and the 149th St bridge space for mid-
MD!
scale cultural
Mill Pond
Park programming
P5!
LA! LINCOLN AVENUE
Direct access to the water Treatment and
LA!
adjacent to cultural corridor prime access to
Lincoln along the South Bronx
Avenue the water and arts