By: Jordan Baker

The first heat wave of summer didn’t just bring blistering temperatures — it also reignited fury among Upper East Side residents, who are now entering a fourth consecutive summer without access to a key seven-block stretch of the East River Esplanade. The closure, originally billed as temporary and necessary for hospital construction, has dragged on for years, with the latest timeline pushing a full reopening into 2026, according to a NY Post report.

The walkway between East 70th and 78th streets was shuttered in 2021 to make way for the Hospital for Special Surgery’s new 12-story expansion tower. At the time, residents were assured that the esplanade would be returned not only intact but improved. But what was once pitched as a reasonable disruption has turned into a seemingly endless saga of delays, broken promises, and what locals now call a major public safety and quality-of-life failure. “This has been going on for years, which is crazy to me,” said Jennifer Ratner, founder of Friends of the East River Esplanade. “They need to return it better than it was and ensure the waterfront is continuous. This isn’t rocket science,” she told the New York Post.

The New York Post reports that emails from hospital officials as recently as last summer floated the idea of reopening the walkway “for as much of summer 2025 as possible.” Now, even that timeline has slipped. The site remains in disarray — wood planks are exposed, overgrown weeds choke off what were supposed to be landscaped greenspaces, and boxes of materials sit unopened. Construction setbacks, including the discovery of multiple sinkholes, have complicated efforts, but many locals see a pattern of shifting deadlines and vague commitments. “If you’re on the West Side or Brooklyn Bridge Park — or frankly, in almost any city in America — you can walk and bike freely,” Ratner said. “We can’t. It’s a shame.”

Residents say the prolonged closure has real consequences. The detour reroutes families, joggers, and cyclists onto dangerous streets, where traffic is chaotic and the route is poorly marked. “We’re very limited in where we can go,” said Celeste Garson, a school social worker and mother who lives nearly 30 minutes from Central Park. “This was a beautiful, calming place for families. I see people turn around rather than enter the street. It’s a real safety issue,” she said, calling the project a “tease” that’s strung the neighborhood along for years. After leaving an interview with The New York Post, Garson was nearly struck by a car while cycling on York Avenue, where many now travel in lieu of the closed path.

The New York Post reported that HSS initially promised improvements in exchange for the esplanade closure, including beautification and extended greenspace. But even the ramp connecting the street to the esplanade remains closed. The hospital now says that portion will reopen by the end of this year, and the stretch between East 70th and 73rd streets will begin restoration in August — with completion expected by March 2026. No clear timeline has been given for the rest of the path.

In a statement to The New York Post, HSS Vice President of Communications Christina Holsten acknowledged residents’ frustration, calling the esplanade “a treasured public resource.” She said the hospital is “proud to be investing in its long-term future” and noted that HSS is paying more than $400,000 in delay penalties to fund enhancements to the area.