NYCkayaker NYC Water Trail / East River Access

[rob buchanan]

John,

The area you're talking about, around South Street Seaport, does not belong
to the Parks Department but to the Economic Development Corporation. They
are in the process of redeveloping it as public open space with $150 million
of federal funds; if you google up 'East River Waterfront Esplanade and
Piers Project' you'll find the details. The best potential launch site along
that stretch is the beach under the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn Bridge
(photos at http://www.newyorkharborbeaches.org/beach13.htm ). I think the
team at the Parks Dept. that's putting togther the Water Trail (led by
Dorothy Lewandowski, the Queens Borough Commissioner) is interested in
listing the site as part of their network, but is waiting for the EDC to
settle on an access policy there (they've got the usual institutional
worries about 'dangerous' currents, liability, etc.) Some of us have been
prodding the waterfront committee of Community Board 1 about this, and
lately there have been some encouraging signs of support. You're in
community board 3; might be worth going to speak to their parks/waterfront
committee the next time they meet.

I don't know  what's going on at Stuyvesant Cove but agree it's a logical
launch site, too. Anybody know of any efforts to push for access there?


Rob Buchanan


On 12/11/07 4:07 PM, "jkhunka at ix.netcom.com" <jkhunka at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> I live in the East Village and would like to use my Klepper folding kayak in
> the East River.  However, there is practically no access to the water on the
> East Side of Manhattan.  Is anyone aware of plans or proposals to create new
> launch sites on the East Side as part of the NYC Water Trail?  Perhaps the NYC
> Parks Department should collaborate with the South Street Seaport Museum to
> create a place to store and launch sea kayaks at the seaport.  Such an
> undertaking would be in line with the museum's mission.  In addition, the
> Parks Department should investigate creating access to the river at Stuyvesant
> Cove Park.  There is a storage shed behind Solar One at 23rd Street that could
> be enlarged to create storage for kayaks, and there's a sliver of beach at
> 21st Street that could be used as a launch site if a gate were installed in
> the railing.
> 
> John Hunka
> 248 E 2d St #8
> New York NY 10009
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