An Annual Celebration of the River in Riverdale

A Bronx Trail & Link to the Empire State Trail

The Hudson River Greenway Initiative & Riverdale RiverFest are Projects of the

Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corp./KRVC

505 West 236th StreetBronx, NY 10463

718-543-7100krvcdc.org

Tale of a Bronx Trail2014-2017

Founded in 1981, the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation (KRVC), a not-for-profit organization, aims to encourage and support local initiatives that will build and enrich our community through social, cultural, environmental, health, housing, educational and business enterprises. Our target area is the business and residential community comprised of Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Fieldston, Woodlawn and Van Cortlandt Village. KRVC expands our work to other programs and communities when appropriate.  krvcdc.org

Since 2015, Riverdale RiverFest has been produced by KRVC together with a coalition of volunteer residents and community groups.  The goal of the event is to promote the creation  of the Hudson River Greenway and to celebrate the Hudson River. Admission to the annual festival is free and each year thousands attend and have the opportunity to sail on tall ships, enjoy music by talented local and national performers, experience interactive exhibits and presentations, and most importantly, enjoy recreational activities along the banks of the majestic Hudson River. riverdaleriverfest.org

KRVC launched our Hudson River Greenway Initiative in 2014. KRVC is committed to achieve the goal of a Hudson River Greenway for the Bronx by helping to coordinate the efforts of stakeholders and local leaders and producing events such as Greenway Day, Riverdale RiverFest and the Greenway Gala. krvcdc.org/greenway

This booklet focuses on the quest for and progress toward a Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx starting in 2014. It begins with the passage of the Community Board 8 resolution and the launch of KRVC's Greenway Initiative. There was a grassroots campaign in our community for a Greenway long prior to 2014, which was led by the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway. Riverdale RiverFest was produced by the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway from 2010-2014.

KRVC's Greenway & RiverFest TeamIn April 2010, Tracy Shelton took over as KRVC’s Executive Director with extensive experience in the public interest and strong community ties and involvement. In her tenure at KRVC, she has developed an ambitious and extensive program of activities, initiatives and events for the organization. In 2014, she expanded KRVC's role in the community's grassroots campaign for the creation of a Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx. tracykrvc@gmail.com

Cliff Stanton is a successful business owner and dedicated community activist. Cliff was one of the early planners of Riverdale RiverFest and has been an ardent advocate for river access for our community.  He has served as KRVC's Greenway Coordinator and lead Riverdale RiverFest Organizer since the fall of 2014.   cliffkrvc@gmail.com

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative and Riverdale RiverFest are also supported by a large team of KRVC staff members including Farrah Rubin, Shari Hall, Shannon Goodson, Holly Makin, Martin DeBenedictis and community volunteers including Yael Levy, the founder of Riverdale RiverFest; Jack Lehnert, Stephanie Hill, Ethan Strell, Linda Hirlehey and Rita Lowe. Special thanks to Lucy Reading for creating the Greenway logo for KRVC and the project rendering and to Unjoo Noh for creating the RiverFest logo.

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway InitiativeIn June 2014, Bronx Community Board 8 passed a resolution in support of an all-river Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx. Shortly thereafter, KRVC launched our Hudson River Greenway Initiative, using that resolution as our blueprint. Through this initiative, KRVC has produced several events including RiverFests, Greenway Days and Greenway Galas. The planning, promotion and production of those events has included widespread outreach about the Hudson River Greenway and the support for the initiative has been enthusiastic and overwhelming. We have collected nearly two thousand postcards and letters of support from community members, organizations, institutions and businesses for the creation of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx.

Here is a brief summary of the progress toward the creation of the greenway since the passage of the Community Board 8 resolution. In the fall of 2014, Community Board 8 formed a special Greenway Committee. In the fall of 2015, KRVC and Community Board 8 members stood with State Senator Jeff Klein when he announced funding he had secured for a feasibility study for the trail. In February 2016, Councilmember Andrew Cohen introduced a New York City Council Resolution in support of the creation of a Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx. In May 2016, representatives from the Metropolitan Transit Authority gave a presentation on the process and timeline for the study Senator Klein funded. Matrix New World was later selected to conduct the feasibility study with a target completion date of June 2017. In January 2017, Governor Cuomo announced his plans for the completion of the Hudson River Greenway as part of an Empire State Trail and his executive budget proposal includes funding for this project.

KRVC looks forward to doing all we can to support this progress. The pages that follow include photos and more details.

In June 2014, Bronx Community Board 8 passed a resolution in support of an all-river Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx. After that, KRVC, using that resolution as our blueprint, established our Hudson River Greenway Initiative.

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway InitiativeKRVC launched our Hudson River Greenway Initiative in the fall of 2014 at our Greenway Gala, held on October 19, 2014 at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale. At the gala, we announced that Cliff Stanton would serve as KRVC's Greenway Director and Riverdale RiverFest Organizer. KRVC honored all our local elected officials, three supportive community board members, Riverdale RiverFest founder, Yael Levy, and the President of the College of Mount Saint Vincent where Riverdale RiverFest is held. See photos of KRVC's 2014 Greenway Gala below.

Photos of all our elected officials, KRVC's Greenway Director and KRVC's Executive Director with Bob Bender who sits on Community Board 8's Greenway Committee, which was formed in the fall of 2014.

On April 19, 2015, KRVC held our first Greenway Day in Riverdale Station Park, which is located along the Hudson River at 254th Street. The tiny park currently represents Riverdale's only river access. The event was attended by hundreds of people including all our local elected officials. See the photos of this very successful event below.

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative

The letter below was distributed by our elected officials at KRVC's Greenway Day,

held on April 19, 2015.

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative

Greenway Gala&

Greenway DayNews Clips

Riverdale RiverFest The Centerpiece of KRVC's Hudson River

Greenway InitiativeOn June 14, 2015, KRVC produced Riverdale RiverFest, an annual celebration of the river held at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. The event featured sails on tall ships, live music by talented local and national performers, interactive exhibits and presentations, and most importantly, a wide variety of recreational activities along the banks of the majestic Hudson River. RiverFest 2015 was the first RiverFest produced by KRVC. Riverdale RiverFest was founded by Yael Levy and produced by the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway from 2010-2014. See the photos of the 2015 event below.

RiverFest 2015 ended with a concert by Bo Bice and Blood, Sweat and Tears. This special concert was funded by Senator Klein.

Great Greenway News Announced by State Senator Jeff Klein in October 2015

Laura Spalter, CB 8 Greenway Committee; State Senator Jeff Klein; KRVC Executive Director Tracy Shelton; Bob Bender, CB 8 Greenway Committee

Excerpt from Senator Klein's News Release - For years, local elected officials, advocates and community members have both dreamt of a pedestrian path that runs along the Hudson River shoreline in the northwest Bronx. Now, thanks to the help of funding secured by Senator Klein in this year’s state budget, that vision is one step closer to a reality. The recent injection of funding, totaling $250,000, will go toward a new study to determine the feasibility of expanding the current path along the Hudson River and closing the nearly three mile-long gap between the Bronx and Westchester that has left many local residents up in arms. The new study will examine the stabilization of the Hudson River’s embankment in Riverdale and include the development of several design alternatives as well as the selection of the final trail design.“Riverdale residents have waited too long for a permanent greenway in their community,” said Klein.

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway InitiativeKRVC held our second Greenway Gala at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale on November 22, 2015. At the gala, there was much to celebrate as it marked the one year anniversary of KRVC's very successful Hudson River Greenway Initiative. The evening was also a celebration of the recent announcement of the funding allocated by State Senator Klein for a feasibility study for the trail. KRVC's Greenway Director, Cliff Stanton served as the Master of Ceremonies. See the photos below.

Photos of Dan Padernacht, Community Board 8 Chair; KRVC's Greenway Director (on the bike!); all our local elected officials with KRVC's Executive Director and Honoree Daniel Reingold, President and CEO of Riverspring Health/Hebrew Home at Riverdale with Senator Klein.

Councilmember Andrew Cohen introduced a New York City Council Resolution in support of the Hudson

River Greenway in the Bronx in February 2016, which will hopefully

pass the NYC Council Soon!

Excerpts from the

Resolution

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative

On April 17, 2016, KRVC held our second Greenway Day in Riverdale Station Park. Hundreds of community members attended including our local elected officials. The event featured a variety of attractions and was a true celebration of the Greenway Initiative. See the photos of this very successful event below.

Excerpts from the presentation the MTA made before the Community Board 8 Greenway Committee in May 2016. The study is funded by State Senator Jeff Klein and after the presentation Matrix New World was selected to conduct the study.

Our community is grateful to Senator Klein for funding this study and anxious for updates and reports on its progress. We all look forward to the completion of the study and release of the final report scheduled for June 2017 - just in time for RiverFest 2017!

Riverdale RiverFest The Centerpiece of KRVC's Hudson River

Greenway InitiativeOn Sunday, June 5, 2016, KRVC produced our annual Riverdale RiverFest at the College of Mount Saint Vincent for the second time.* The event also featured sails on tall ships, live music by talented local and national performers, interactive exhibits and presentations, and most importantly, a wide variety of recreational activities along the banks of the majestic Hudson River. An exciting addition to RiverFest 2016 was a Saturday Evening Outdoor Movie on the River. On Sunday, despite the rain, it was a successful event. See the photos below.

* Riverdale RiverFest was founded by Yael Levy and produced by the Friends of the Hudson River Greenway from 2010-2014.

Headline for the

Governor's BIG News!

In January 2017, as described in the headline above, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his proposal to complete the Hudson River Greenway as part of an Empire State Trail. Funds for the project are included in the Governor's Executive Budget Proposal.

Once complete, the Hudson River Greenway will provide an economic, cultural and recreational renaissance for the Northwest Bronx.  A State report determined that the 50% complete Hudson River Valley Greenway “generates more than $21 million annually in economic impact from visitors stopping in communities” along its existing 130-miles of trail.

KRVC is committed to supporting the Governor's proposal in any way we can. We hope our community is and remains a top priority of the overall project. KRVC is hopeful that the MTA study to be completed on time so that the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx portion of the project can be one of the initial phases of the Empire State Trail.

KRVC has collected thousands of postcards and letters of support from community members, organizations, institutions and businesses for the

creation of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx. Below is just a partial list.

College of Mount Saint VincentHebrew Home at Riverdale

Riverdale YManhattan College

SchervierRiverdale Neighborhood House

North Riverdale Merchants AssociationWave Hill

New York Cycle ClubRiverdale Nature Preservancy

Bronx River AllianceAssociation of Riverdale Co-ops

Friends of Van Cortlandt ParkHazon

Horace Mann School Riverdale Art AssociationRiverdale Choral SocietyRiverdale Country SchoolRiverdale Jewish Center

Riverdale Jewish Community Relations CouncilRiverdale Mental Health Association

Riverdale Senior ServicesRiverdale/Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture

Rotary Club of RiverdaleSisters of Charity NY

Transportation AlternativesVan Cortlandt Park Conservancy

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative

Blackstone Bar and GrillBlue Bay Restaurant

Brown’s JewelersCora Housewares

DJ DrugsDesigners CornerDouglas EllimanGarden Gourmet

John’s Botany Bay FloristKidville

Larry the LocksmithLiebman’s Kosher Deli

Linda’s Jazz NightsMagnum Comics & Cards

Mary-Anne’s Irish Gift ShopMenchies

Palace of JapanParkview SportsRegal Pharmacy

Riverdale Rehabilitation (Whole You Spa)Riverdale Urgent Care

Salvatore’s of SohoSkyview Wine & Spirits

State Farm AgentTin Marin

United SpokesVacuum World Stores

Yo-Burger

KRVC's Hudson River Greenway Initiative

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, March 20, 2017Greenway Meeting

7pm at KRVC 505 West 236th Street

Bronx, NY 10463

Sunday, June 11, 2017Riverdale RiverFest

12-6pm at College of Mount Saint Vincent6301 Riverdale Avenue

Bronx, NY 10471

Thursday, October 26, 2017Greenway Gala

5-8pm at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale5901 Palisade Avenue

Bronx, NY 10471