Visit New York's East River Parkway - It's a Great Place to Kick Scoot!

[ KICK SCOOTING - 8/18/2011 - www.LetsKickScoot.com ]

>>  Over the past ten years, New York City has made major investments in its riverside parks. People who live nearby, of course, are quick to take advantage of them. Visitors, however, are usually only aware of Central Park and Battery Park, and because of that, they often miss these stunning, riverside attractions.

To help introduce people to the city's riverside parks, my husband and I have been systematically touring them via our kick scooters. We hope our experiences give you some fresh ideas on what to do and see when in the big city and, if you want to "kick start" your walking experiences, you'll find that kick scooting will extend your travel distances, without the rush experience of biking.

We started this trip at Battery Park, then headed toward the East River. We actually walked our a Xootr and KickPed through the Financial District's throngs to get to this point. That's not scooting territory, but walking scooters from the subway during heavy pedestrian traffic is no more trouble than walking through that traffic with baby strollers.

Riverside parks are, of course, all about the water, vistas, and boating. Between Battery Park and the end of our journey, you'll find numerous places to hop on a boat. Carrying a kick scooter on a ship is no trouble at all.

This adventure follows a route that starts at Battery Park and continues along the East River to approximately 34th Street (about 5 miles), then returns to Battery Park via a NY Waterway's ferry from its E. 34th Street & the East River dock.

NOTE: The ferry trip back stops at Hunters Point (Long Island City), India Street (Greenpoint), North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Bridge Park (a stunning park), and ends at Wall Street's Pier 11 (Battery Park area). You can get off at any stop for only $4.00!

No matter where you are on this route, frequently turn your attention towards New York's skyscrapers because if you don't, you'll miss out on some amazing scenes. When you look accross the street from the Staten Island Ferry Dock area, for example, you'll better understand what the phrase the canyons of New York means.

After passing the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, you'll come to the old Governors Island Ferry Terminal at the Battery Maritime Building. Ferries leave there from Slip 7, which is next to the building.

As of this writing, construction is being done at various points along the East River parkway route. This makes the walkway particularly tight just past the Governors Island Ferry Terminal as you head toward the South Street Seaport.

You'll have more space to kick scoot, walk, or ride a bike when you reach the bike and pedestrian path under the FDR East Side Highway.

The actual South Street Seaport area is usually filled with visitors, especially on beautiful, warm days. Next to the river are tall ship museums, ticket agents for boat rides and museum passes, and a large shopping center, complete with numerous restaurants. Inland, just past the FDR, are numerous shops and restaurants, plus the famous Bodyies exhibit.

NOTE: There is also a TKTS booth in the area where you can buy discounted tickets for plays. This booth has shorter lines than at its famous Midtown location, yet sells tickets for the same productions.

As I mentioned before, make a point of looking up at the Manhattan skyline. The contrast between it and the river's edge is dramatic.

Rather than continue on the bike path under the FDR, follow South Street (just across the street) to Peck Slip, then make a point of noticing the trompe l'oeil buildings painted on a blank wall of a Consolidated Edison building. (See below.)

NOTE: This general area is where Thomas Edison set up shop for the nation's first electrical generation station at 255 Pearl Street, although there is no monument.

After looking at the trompe l'oeil buildings on Peck Slip, return to the walkway and bicycle path under the FDR. Take care as some utility vehicles also drive on this path.

Once you arrive at the water's edge, take sufficient time to appreciate the views up and down the East River, including the Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridges.

As of 2011, portions of the parkway were under construction, so if you take this trip, you will pass construction walls and heavy machinery, which, hopefully, will be gone in the future.

Eventually, you'll arrive at Corlears Hook Park, which is the largest park on the East River in lower Manhattan. While lush, it is not as continuous as riverside parks on the Hudson River. Still, it is very popular with local residents and it offers plenty of shade and a very nice spot to enjoy the scenery.

Adjacent to Corlears Hook Park is the East River Park, which is the long strip that runs along the river itself. Throughout this connected area you'll find a children's water spray park (below), a band shelter (prior picture), sports fields, and numerous benches.

The walkway along this parkway is called the East River Promenade. From it, you see vistas of the massive Williamsburg Bridge ahead and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Wallabout Bay on the Brooklyn side of the river.

NOTE: The East River is actually a sea inlet (estuary), which means that it is filled with salty, sea water. Its often misty atmosphere and related smells are absolutely refreshing.

Once you leave the East River Park, the walkway narrows considerably. You will, however, pass Stuyvesant Cove Park, which is a formal strip of park at the end of E. 20th Street and the East River that borders Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.

TIP: Bring a bottle of water on your trip as there are no refreshment stands along the way. If you do see a fountain, use it to top off your bottle (I definitely trust the water). Depending on how much time you spend (and you'll be tempted to relax in the area all day), consider bringing a few Power Bars, or other snacks, too.

As you begin to reach Midtown Manhattan with the Queensborough Bridge in the far distance at E. 60th Street, you'll sense an expanding vista. Study the skyline map at the river's edge to identify what you see.

Also, make a point of looking toward Midtown. You'll know that you are almost there when views of the Empire State Building on W. 34th Street become increasingly clear.

The near end of the trail is marked by The Water Club, a beautiful restaurant on the river's edge located between 28th and 32nd Street. Although we didn't eat here on this trip, we plan to return. Its lunch menu, served between noon and 3:00 PM is reasonably priced and its daytime atmosphere appears fairly casual.

NOTE: The restaurant is not open Mondays, and I assume that Sunday's brunch is dressy-casual. Check whether reservations are needed on the weekends.

Just beyond The Water Club is the NY Waterway ferry dock, discussed at the beginning of this article. For a relaxing river cruise and change of scenery, I urge you to take the ferry to return to Battery Park, rather than retrace the route on land.

If you don't need to return downtown, but want a subway instead, you are near Grand Central Terminal at Park Avenue and 42nd Street, or fairly near the Times Square Station at Broadway and 42nd Street. Of course, if you are really tired, you can just hail a cab.

Other Articles on NYC's River Side Parkways By Karen Little