The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary surrounding the east side of New York City. While it is heavily polluted due to runoff, storm drains and illegal dumping, the large amounts of pollution dates back to the industrial age, leaving the East River contaminated. Now, with climate change and flooding, the city needs to take precautions on flooding which will occur if nothing were to be done. Following Hurricane Sandy, the East River has been given $1.4 billion to be rebuilt as a part of the East Side Coastal Residency Project. This project, funded by New York City and the Federal government, aims “at reducing flood risk due to coastal storms and sea level rise on Manhattan’s East Side.”  This plan not only aids in flooding with building floodwall but aims to help neighborhoods which are directly impacted and unable to sustain the costs of flooding. 

However, what will the effects of tearing down parks be? What will happen to businesses such as the Lower East Side Ecology Center which has their compost center on the East River? Are there other ways to contain the flooding instead of rebuilding the entire park? 

There is controversy about this project out there. With people upset about destroying the park and cutting down trees, the East River Park Action group has an instagram, as well as held protests at the East River Park.