Study Area

The study area encompasses the Fort Washington Park Greenway along the Henry Hudson Parkway northbound between the George Washington Bridge at the south and Dyckman Street at the north. The study area is bounded to the east by Cabrini Woods and Fort Tryon Park, and to the west by the Henry Hudson Parkway southbound. Notable features within the study area include the pedestrian bridge at W181st Street, Inspiration Point, Billings Arcade, the Henry Hudson Parkway, and the greenway and adjacent retaining wall.

Aerial map of a city with labeled landmarks and features including study area, Fort Tryon Park, Cabrini Woods, Fort Washington Park, Greenway, Dyckman Street, Dyckman Street Ramp, Billings Arcade, Inspiration Point, Retaining Wall, 181st Street Pedestrian Bridge, and Amtrak tracks. The map shows the river along the bottom and various infrastructure elements.

History and Context

1930s wall and greenway from below castle village site.jpg

1930s wall and greenway – bottom of photo below Castle Village site

Source: Getty Images

A black and white photo of a hillside with a wooden fence along a dirt road, sparse trees, and a house with a tower in the distance.

Ca 1910 – Lafayette Boulevard – dry stack rubble stone wall with timber guardrail

Source: Museum of the City of New York

The transportation corridor along the study area dates to the late 1800s.  Formerly a sidewalk constructed in the 1920’s along Riverside Drive, the existing greenway was constructed in the early 2000s to close a gap in the citywide greenway network. Parks constructed the ADA access ramp from Dyckman Street in 2015. A history of sinkholes has impacted the study area for over 20 years. NYC Parks has addressed these conditions and sinkholes as they have occurred. When NYC Parks identified that an underlying issue with the adjacent retaining wall may be causing recurring sinkholes on the greenway, NYC Parks sought funding for a Capital Project Scope Development (CPSD) study to thoroughly investigate the situation and identify solutions.

Study Scope

The scope of the study is to investigate existing conditions, identify and evaluate feasible options for addressing the issues, and prepare cost estimates.  NYC Parks will then use the cost estimates to pursue funding for a capital project to implement a solution.

Study Goals

The goal of the scoping phase is to develop solutions which address the sinkholes and closures, while also considering broader opportunities for improving the safety, functionality, access, capacity, maintenance, and amenities along the greenway.  The goals and priorities of the greenway users and local community will inform the solutions identified in the study.

Timeline

The study has a duration of one year.  Community engagement will take place from July 2025 to September 2025:

A timeline chart outlining project phases from 2025 to 2026, including site investigations, stakeholder engagement, community outreach, developing options and cost estimates, and final presentation to the community board.