New York Construction Report staff writer
The city has hired a landscape architecture firm to lead a major redesign of Park Avenue in Manhattan, aiming to make the iconic corridor greener, safer and more pedestrian-friendly.
The New York City Department of Transportation has awarded an 18-month contract to Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners LLC to plan improvements along Park Avenue between East 46th and East 57th streets. The redesign will include a wider median, new seating, landscaping, and other pedestrian-focused features.
The project coincides with an ongoing Metropolitan Transportation Authority rehabilitation of the Grand Central Terminal train shed, which runs directly beneath this section of Park Avenue. City officials said the redesign offers a rare opportunity to reimagine the avenue while the underground structure is being rebuilt.
“This is a unique opportunity to make Park Avenue greener, safer, and more pedestrian-friendly—while honoring the character that makes it one of New York City’s most recognizable streets,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.
The planning phase will involve public engagement efforts to gather feedback from residents, commuters and local businesses. That input will inform the design and guide the creation of a customizable streetscape “kit of parts,” which could include elements like landscaping, public art and lighting. The design team will also study roadway use, drainage and pedestrian safety.
The project is funded through the East Midtown Governing Group, formed under the 2017 Greater East Midtown rezoning. The funding mechanism requires developers to contribute to public realm improvements when building new commercial projects or transferring air rights.
City officials say the redesign is part of a broader strategy to enhance public space across Midtown. It aligns with other projects including the Fifth Avenue redesign, the Broadway Vision Plan, and the upcoming reconstruction of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler and local community leaders praised the project, citing its potential to modernize Park Avenue and shift focus away from cars in favor of more sustainable transportation and pedestrian access.
No construction timeline has been announced.
