New York Construction Report staff writer
The newly reopened Ballfields 1 and 2 in East River Park mark a significant milestone in the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project.
Officials cut a ribbon this week and guided people over the newly-constructed, ADA-accessible Delancey Street Bridge, which spans the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive.
“Our agencies are nothing if not creative in their efforts to protect New Yorkers from climate change and deliver needed public space,” said Deputy Mayor Joshi. “If that means building out, like the 34th Street esplanade, or up, as we’re doing here with ESCR, that’s what we’ll do. This will be a beautiful, airy park that shows no trace of the complexity involved in its planning.”
The newly rebuilt Ballfields 1 and 2 feature advanced turf and drainage systems, new stadium lighting, and perimeter fencing. The $32 million Delancey Street Bridge, a key access point to the park, replaces a smaller, less accessible bridge with a new, ADA-compliant design. The ESCR project also includes upgrades to other park amenities and the reconstruction of the Tennis House, Track House, and 10th Street Comfort Station.
“We’re happy to live up to our commitment to reopen this part of East River Park by the start of September little league season” said DDC Commissioner Foley. “We remain on budget and on schedule to complete the entire project by the end of 2026.”
The ESCR project aims to create a comprehensive flood barrier along the Lower East Side, employing various flood protection measures and improving waterfront access and infrastructure. It is part of a broader initiative that includes the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resiliency (BMCR) project, which will together form a 3.22-mile flood barrier by the end of 2026.
