Riverside Park South – Phase 6
Final phase of a major waterfront park development on Manhattan's Upper West Side, transforming a former rail yard into public recreational facilities including a multi-use sports field, basketball courts, pedestrian pathways, and landscaped open space.
Project Overview
The Riverside Park South Phase 6 project represents the culmination of one of New York City's most ambitious waterfront transformation initiatives. This final phase converted a historically contaminated former rail yard into vibrant public recreational space, including state-of-the-art sports facilities and carefully designed landscape areas that connect seamlessly with the existing park infrastructure.
The Challenge
The site carried an NYC E-Designation requiring remediation under the oversight of the Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) prior to any change of use. The former rail yard presented significant environmental challenges including contaminated soils from decades of industrial operations, complex grade changes exceeding 15 feet, and the need to maintain operations at adjacent active park areas throughout construction. The project required navigating OER's regulatory framework for E-Designated sites, including preparation of a Remedial Action Work Plan, Health and Safety Plan, and Community Air Monitoring Plan, while adhering to strict NYC Parks Department standards and managing over 13,000 cubic yards of earthwork.
Our Solution
Envicon Group developed a comprehensive environmental management strategy that included excavation of contaminated soils with proper off-site disposal, beneficial reuse of screened fill materials to minimize imported materials, and installation of a multi-layer composite cap system. Our team maintained continuous air monitoring throughout construction and coordinated all activities to minimize disruption to park visitors.
Key Highlights
- Excavated contaminated soils and managed off-site disposal
- Prepared a Soil Reuse Plan to allow for the reuse of suitable onsite soils for subbase cap grading fill to limit imported materials and reduce exported materials originally specified
- Installed composite cap (clean soil, hardscape, synthetic turf) for long-term safety
- Site-wide composite cover system installation documentation and verification
- Community Air Monitoring (CAMP) services throughout remedial construction
- NYC OER E-Designation compliance and closeout documentation
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) compliance monitoring
- NYSDEC Qualified Inspector services for erosion and sediment control
- Value engineering to optimize material reuse and reduce disposal costs
- Remedial construction oversight coordinating multiple contractors
Results Achieved
- Zero environmental incidents during construction
- Successful transformation of contaminated industrial site to public park
- Managed over 13,000 CY of earthwork across significant grade changes
- Created lasting recreational amenities for Upper West Side community
Key Metrics
"Envicon's environmental management strategy was critical to delivering this final phase on schedule. Their team's attention to community safety and regulatory compliance gave us complete confidence throughout construction."
Project Details
Client
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation / RC5 Development LLC
Location
Manhattan, New York
Duration
48 months
Scope
Environmental engineering, construction oversight, and regulatory compliance for final phase of waterfront park development
Services Provided
Related Services
Environmental Assessment
Lender-ready Phase I/II ESAs with 1-week turnaround. Comprehensive due diligence that banks approve the first time.
Remediation & Brownfield
Fast-track site cleanup with rapid turnaround on regulatory submittals. Transform contaminated properties into lender-ready assets.
Compliance & Permitting
Expedited permit turnaround with multi-agency coordination. Environmental permits and compliance documentation that don't delay your project.
You May Also Need
Stormwater & SWPPP
Matches “stormwater” scope
Stormwater pollution prevention plans, permitting, and post-construction stormwater compliance.
NYC E-Designation
Matches “nyc” scope
NYC OER E-Designation testing, hazmat, noise, and air quality compliance for development sites.
Health & Safety Plans
Matches “remediation” scope
Site-specific HASPs, HAZWOPER compliance documentation, and field safety oversight for investigation, remediation, and construction work.
Dewatering
Matches “monitoring” scope
Construction dewatering system design, permitting, and field oversight for NJ and NY sites.
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Riverside Park South – Phase 6 — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the scope, challenges, and outcomes of this Manhattan, New York case study.
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