Bridge Park (Bronx)
An early advocate of expanding the City of New York, he envisioned the bridge as symbolic of the unity between Manhattan and the Bronx.[1] The construction of Major Deegan Expressway (I-87) in 1939 and Cross-Bronx Expressway (I-95) in 1955 greatly reduced some of the parkland on the Harlem River shoreline in favor of highway ramps connecting Washington Bridge to the two highways.[2][3] The area was difficult to access, and undeveloped until the City decided to develop unused waterfronts as linear parks connecting distant neighborhoods and providing opportunities to launch canoes and learn about wildlife living in Harlem River.[4] In May 2015, the 0.5-mile (0.80 km) strip along the Bronx side of Harlem River opened to the public as Bridge Park.The master plan for Bridge Park includes passive and active recreational facilities and educational structures including a boathouse and canoe launch at the water's edge; a greenhouse, garden and picnic grove further inland, as well as a performance space and bike trails.