The last of three public forums on a proposal to finally fill in a gap in the East River Greenway on NYC’s East Side is this Tuesday. Elected officials organizing the forums — City Councilmember Dan Garodnick, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney — have been in attendance to gather public input, and it’s important that anyone who supports a completed Greenway, especially East Side residents, turn out and express support.

Manhattan’s East River Greenway has long been a poor cousin to the Hudson River Greenway on the city’s West Side, which has become an essential recreational asset and commuting link. The East Side’s riverside pedestrian and bicycle path hasn’t been as successful due to deficiencies including a gap between 38th and 60th Streets in Midtown. In the last state legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill which outlines a proposal that could finally fill in this gap.

As part of the proposal, NYC would sell two buildings currently occupied by the United Nations, with the proceeds used to build a riverside esplanade that fills in the Greenway gap, create a maintenance endowment for the path, improve other parks in the neighborhood, and boost the city’s budget. The UN would be given part of Robert Moses Playground on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets so it could build a new building. The deal will happen only if the city and state sign a binding memorandum of understanding by October 10 which clearly delineates how funding will be spent.

NYC is also converting the former ConEdison pier on 38th Street into a park. Along with the greenway, a potential new park created by demapping Asser Levy Place (a one-block street between 23rd and 25th Streets), and possible improvements to other parks in the area, there’s no question that the proposal would be a significant net gain of open space.

During the first forum on August 4, public comments were almost exclusively in favor of the proposal. At the second forum on September 8, comments were more mixed; residents and community groups from Roosevelt Island and Turtle Bay spoke in favor while residents and groups from Tudor City expressed concerns about the loss of the playground and impacts on views. (For more coverage of the second forum, see DNAinfo.) In a closing statement, Sen. Krueger said the proposal was the best opportunity that had come along to fill in the greenway gap.

The final forum is Tuesday, September 20, from 5 pm to 8 pm, at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Smiloh Seminar Room, on 550 First Avenue in Manhattan. Those unable to attend can also submit comments online at EastSideOpenSpace.com.

Image: Via EastSideOpenSpace.com.