By Mary Velan
Gov1
In New York City, Riverside Park offers residents with ample amenities for outdoor activities and access to green space. The park, however, is separated than Hamilton Heights, a nearby Manhattan neighborhood, by train tracks and the West Side Highway. Currently, residents must walk up steep stairs on a narrow bridge connecting Hamilton Heights to Riverside Park.
But not for long.
Construction of a new $24 million pedestrian bridge has already begun. The bridge will cross over the tracks and highway, and include ramps, so residents with wheelchairs, bicycles and strollers can access the park more easily, The New York Times reported.
Why The Need?
For more than 40 years, residents of Hamilton Heights have struggled to access Riverside Park by foot. Walkers must traverse 122 steep stairs that make it difficult to carry any equipment with them. Because the current bridge offers steep steps and poor lighting, walking across can be hazardous at night for many residents.
Using $20 million in state funding, the project will involve a series of ramps on either side of the bridge and no stairs to ensure ease of use for a variety of park-goers. Furthermore, the bridge will enable more dog owners to bring their pets to the park, spurring the creation of a permanent dog run in Riverside, The New York Times reported.