Shoreline Configuration

The character of the Blueway shoreline is mostly hard bulkhead and pile foundation. There are very few locations along the waterfront with soft edges that are natural or where people
can actually get down to the water edge. Less than 6% of the shoreline within the site extent represents constructed coves or naturally occurring habitats.

Among the few locations where one can find a naturally occurring habitat is below the Brooklyn Bridge (see the map above). Just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, the esplanade is supported on pile foundations over rip rap. Below the Bridge, the shoreline transitions to a bulkhead with the beach extending out into the water. This area is the only location along the site with a naturally forming beach. This beach is currently inaccessible to the public and continues along the site for about 500 feet from the bridge, and then the shoreline becomes a hard bulkhead.

The hard bulkhead is the predominant condition throughout. The shoreline changes to a pile foundation at Pier 34, 35 and 42, but goes back to a hard bulkhead throughout the extent of East River Park, interrupted only at two locations where there are constructed coves with pedestrian bridges over the water.

The maps above show the different shoreline types found along the Blueway.