NYC Unveils First Comprehensive Greenway Plan in 30 Years

New York City has released Greater Greenways, its first citywide greenway plan in over three decades, laying out a detailed vision to expand, connect, and enhance the city’s 506 miles of existing pedestrian and cycling corridors. Greenways — continuous multi-use paths for recreation and transportation — are intended to improve access to parks, waterfronts, and public spaces while advancing goals related to health, equity, environmental resilience, and economic growth. The plan, developed by the Department of Transportation, NYC Parks, and the Economic Development Corporation, emphasizes closing network gaps and extending greenway access to historically underserved communities, particularly in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.

The plan is organized into two main sections: Greenways of Today, which maps the existing network, its current conditions, and the multiple agencies overseeing it; and Greenways of Tomorrow, which outlines five primary goals for expansion. These include enhancing the transportation network, promoting social equity, supporting health and wellness, fortifying environmental resilience, and fostering economic growth. More than 100 planned and in-progress greenway projects are identified, offering transparency about timelines, funding, and design features to ensure accessibility for all users.

Building on recent initiatives like the Harlem River Greenway in the Bronx, Greater Greenways is both a roadmap for the next generation of greenway projects and a call for coordinated investment. Officials and advocates hailed it as a transformative opportunity to link neighborhoods, reduce reliance on cars, and provide safe, green transportation routes across all five boroughs. With an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, the plan seeks to make greenways a truly citywide asset that improves quality of life, strengthens climate resilience, and ensures every New Yorker can enjoy the benefits of connected, accessible public space.