Mott Haven residents get waterfront access for the first time in a century
NEW YORK - A new public park opened last month along the waterfront in the South Bronx.
But behind Bankside Park's opening, advocates tell CBS News New York they've been pushing for waterfront access for years with their own plan.
"The water has a calming effect on us," Arif Ullah, Executive Director at South Bronx Unite, explained.
The quiet, peaceful walkway curves around the stunning views of the Harlem River in Mott Haven. But it's been nearly 100 years for the community to get public access to the natural haven in their own backyard.
"The great majority of waterfront in the South Bronx is public land that has not been used for public good," said Matthew Shore, the Green Space Equity & Community Land Trust Organizer at South Bronx Unite.
Bankside Park is the first of its kind in the neighborhood, but it only came after the creation of large luxury apartment buildings with high rents that consume the waterfront.
"There are some market rate, very minimal affordable housing, which is concerning in items, because it doesn't always mean a reflecting of the Bronx," said Borough President Vanessa Gibson. "So, the opening of this public park at Bankside really is an incredible opportunity to bring the waterfront back to the public."
Groups like South Bronx Unite say they support waterfront access, but in a different capacity.
"Waterfront access should not be correlated with a person's income or a person's livelihood," said Ari Ullah, the Executive Director of South Bronx Unite.
That's why the group created their own waterfront plan to provide 100,000+ people in the area access to waterways at seven different sites along the Harlem River.
For now, the neighborhood's only waterfront park at Bankside is often times hard to find, as it's tucked away behind the buildings.
"We are glad that there is more open green space for the community. We want this strip to feel more inviting, to feel more accessible," said Ullah.
Advocates in the community say there's a lot more that needs to be done for the residents in Mott Haven. South Bronx Unite says with more signage and accessibility, they're hoping more residents will see the potential on the water, as they put their own plan in motion.
"The more they see the potential of this waterfront area, the more they'll help us advocate for it," said Ullah.
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