Point of view: Put ‘river’ back in Riverdale

By Paul J. Elston

As a nation, we have made great progress since the 1972 enactment of the Clean Water Act in cleaning up our waterways. Rivers that used to serve industry and municipalities as open sewers now support healthy fish and no longer give off noxious odors. This improvement in the quality of our water has led to a significant change in our waterfront.

All across our nation, in city after city, the abandoned industrial waterfront, which had been left in ruin, is being reclaimed by the local communities. Areas that were literal junkyards and often contained toxic waste are being returned to vital and productive uses. Areas that have been abandoned and become dangerous are being made secure and turned into playgrounds for children and adults alike.

And that effort continues in Riverdale.

New York State is engaged in an effort to create a Hudson River Greenway that extends from Albany to the southern tip of Manhattan.

In 1991 the state Legislature created the greenway to preserve, enhance and develop the world-renowned scenic, natural, historic, cultural and recreational resources of the Hudson River Valley. The Greenway Act also calls for safe access to the river and a system of trails that will link the towns and cities, parks, natural areas, and historic sites along the River. New York City has made great progress in creating a Hudson River Greenway along the entire edge of the Hudson in Manhattan, and Yonkers/Westchester has done the same. A greenway in the West Bronx can connect these greenways and communities.

The Hudson River is the defining natural feature of the West Bronx. It was more than 10 years ago that we, as a community, last considered the possibility of creating a greenway that would link the Manhattan greenway with the Westchester greenway.

That effort culminated in a report, Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail Bronx Link (October 1998) that included a design for the greenway (see sketch), and the creation of a park on the waterfront at the Riverdale Metro-North station as an experiment.

After a decade of enjoying the park without any negative experiences, it is time to consider expanding the park and open the full length of the waterfront to our local community, and to connect to our neighbors to the north and south.

On the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in New York City, it is fitting that we should turn our efforts to regaining access to this fabulous natural resource.

Thanks to Sen. Charles Schumer, who provided the funding, we have the opportunity to do that. Federal Transportation legislation in 2004 provided $1 million to plan the segment of the Hudson River Greenway that will link Manhattan with Westchester, extending along the waterfront of the West Bronx.

While it has taken four years to get the planning effort under way, it began last year under the direction of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) and is now at a critical stage.

The consultant has issued a report (Task 4 Report) defining the four alternative routes through the West Bronx that could create this link. During the next six months the consultant will “study” these routes and develop a plan for each route that will include a cost estimate. We need the full participation from our local community to shape this work and the end product.

The Riverdale Nature Conservancy, the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx and Community Board 8 are jointly sponsoring a public meeting at Wave Hill on Nov. 18 (7:30-9:30 p.m.) on the Greenway Plan.

NYMTC will provide a presentation on the planning effort and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation will provide a presentation on the efforts to complete the Greenway in Manhattan, followed by an opportunity for questions and answers. We urge you to participate.

I am convinced that the best way to reclaim and protect the Hudson River is to bring people to the river — to overcome the barriers that separate us from the river. Please join us in this effort to reclaim the waterfront in the West Bronx.

Paul J. Elston is president of the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx, as well as a longtime Riverdale resident.

“Point of View” is a column open to all readers.

This is part of the November 12, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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