Vision 2020: New York City comprehensive waterfront plan

Vision 2020 is a part of Planyc 2030 by mayor Bloomberg. They have already opened up access to miles of shoreline to the public, built new waterfront parks, cleaned the waterways and created jobs along the waterfront.

Image: Waterfront | http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cwp/vision2020_nyc_cwp.pdf

Eight goals are formulated:

_1 Expand public access to the waterfront and waterways on public and private property for all New Yorkers and visitors alike.

_2 Enliven the waterfront with a range of attractive uses integrated with adjacent upland communities.

_3 Support economic development activity on the working waterfront.

_4 Improve waterquality through measures that benefit natural habitats, support public recreation, and enhance waterfront and upland communities.

_5 Restore degraded natural waterfront areas, and protect wetlands and shorefront habitats.

_6 Enhance the public experience of the waterways that surround New York – our Blue Network.

_7 Improve governmental regulation, coordination, and oversight of the waterfront and waterways.

_8 Identify and pursue strategies to increase the city’s resilience to climate change and sea level rise.

The waterfront is very important for New York City. It has 500 miles of shoreline, since NY City consists of islands and water. The waterfront is part of the city’s identity and Vision 2020 will make it a part of the everyday life of all New Yorkers. It’s interesting to think of water as a connective tissue between de boroughs, it shapes land. Amanda M. Burden, director of the department of city  planning, describes the water as the 6^th borough.