Academy Street and North Cove Waterfront Parks
QRP is currently leading the work to reimagine two undeveloped sites on the Harlem River in upper Manhattan - Academy Street and North Cove Parks. The project will transform these inaccessible spaces into vibrant public open spaces, providing much needed new amenities to the east Inwood neighborhood that has historically lacked access to the riverfront. These two parks will reconnect the community to their waterfront and serve as anchors for future sections of the Harlem River Greenway.
At Academy Street, a former street will become a linear waterfront park facing Sherman Creek Cove. The park will include waterfront paths, with a variety of seating and planted areas, a fitness area, a picnic area and a terraced seating at the waterfront that allows visitors to get closer to the water. A new saltmarsh will provide in-water habitat at the cove.
The street bed is full of electrical utilities connected to the ConEd plant adjacent to the park, severely limiting the placement of trees and other park elements with deep foundations. In addition ConEd required vehicular access to every manhole in the site. Working within these constraints we located trees and major features to take advantage of the available areas.
The North Cove site is located on a quiet inlet of the Harlem River. The site was used for years as a dumping ground but a grassroots clean-up in the early 2000’s spurred the idea that the site had potential as a park space. Through a robust community engagement program residents expressed the wish for a park that honors the memory of Jim Cataldi - the Birdman of Inwood - who led the clean-up, with habitat enhancements and places for quiet reflection. The new park reflects these wishes with a focus on passive recreation and waterfront views.
Due to the contamination, excavation and capping are required throughout the site. The design takes advantage of this requirement to reconfigure the site so users can access all three sides of the cove, and creates a new saltmarsh that will provide a rich wetland habitat.
Curving paths around the cove lead to waterfront overlooks and will link to the Manhattan Harlem River Greenway. Natural plantings and seating line the paths, and there are places for play, picnicking and lounging. Stone riprap protects the marsh and upland areas from erosion and sea level rise, while permeable pavers promote infiltration of stormwater, all contributing to a resilient park.
Location
Inwood, Manhattan, NY
Client
NYC EDC and NYC Parks
Role
Prime Consultant
Team
MRCE
eDesign Dynamics
AKRF
LiRo
