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A Manhattan parking lot on the East River will be transformed into an outdoor gym
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 28, 2025
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By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 28, 2025
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A parking lot on public land along the East River waterfront in Manhattan has been closed and will be turned into an outdoor gym.
The city-owned lot at the end of 34th Street was used by New York University as a private parking lot. Now, the parks department and the city’s Economic Development Corporation plan to reopen the space next spring as a temporary public open space with workout equipment and benches. The renovation will cost around $1.1 million.
The parking lot had been open since at least 1991 and had space for around 70 cars.
NYU paid the city $9,492.50 a month in rent, according to city officials.
The push to reclaim the space began several years ago, according to the EDC. The agency touted the elimination of the parking lot as an early win in a broader $1.6 billion redevelopment plan to turn Kips Bay into a hub for scientific research.
Parks department Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said the space would be transformed from an underused site into a “vibrant waterfront destination.”
“Expanding accessible and inclusive open spaces across the city is one of our top priorities,” she said.
“Projects like this show the power of collaboration in reimagining our city’s public spaces for everyone to enjoy."
An angler seized the opportunity to throw out a line after cars were removed from the lot.
Liam Quigley
An EDC spokesperson said they did not have information on permanent uses under consideration for the lot. Any permanent public space on the property will face some logistical challenges.
A neighboring heliport sends an odor of jet fuel wafting over the lot. Choppers taking off and landing next door also make a huge amount of noise. Nevertheless, people flocked into the space once cars were removed last month. Anglers cast lines into the East River before fencing was put up to make way for the installation of the fitness equipment and seating.
Councilmember Keith Powers, who grew up near the waterfront, said he can’t remember a time when the space wasn’t a parking lot.
“It feels transformational to see our ability to turn a longstanding parking lot into a park,” he said.
Powers said the plan is an important step in realizing a vision for a better waterfront along the East River, which could one day rival the Hudson River Greenway in popularity.
“ We're gonna keep pushing for the greenway to keep extending down, but in the meantime, let's make better use of what's there,” Powers said.
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parks
Liam Quigley
Liam Quigley is a reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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