Kips Bay parking lot on East River to become temporary public open space

Streetview of East 34th Street and FDR Drive © 2021 Google

An underutilized stretch of Manhattan’s eastern waterfront in Kips Bay will soon be transformed into new open space. The city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on Monday announced plans to convert a city-owned parking lot on East 34th Street along the FDR Drive into a temporary park. Although the official design has not yet been released, the agency said the new space will feature ADA-accessible fitness equipment, seating and gathering areas, and a waterfront-friendly layout, with completion expected in spring 2026.

Jointly owned by the NYCEDC and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), the site previously served as stacked car storage for the nearby NYU Langone Hospital. The redesign follows years of collabo