Friends of the East River Esplanade Founder Puts Access First

Jennifer Ratner, founder and board chair of Friends of the East River Esplanade, knows that relentless advocacy is key to ensuring New Yorkers can access Manhattan’s eastern waterfront.

The park was acquired in 1939 during construction of the FDR Drive, which was called the East River Drive at the time, and extends nearly 10 scenic miles from Battery Park to 125th Street. Locals may be most familiar with specific stretches, such as the East Midtown Greenway between East 53rd and East 61st Sts., or the Bobby Wagner Walk between 90th and 125th Sts.

Ratner, a pediatrician and a Harvard University graduate, devotes a remarkable amount of time to improving the city-owned space. The organization is known for hosting a slew of free events—musical performances, birdwatching tours, yoga sessions—on the parkway. “We’re really known for our events,” said Ratner.

She told Our Town that her stewardship of Friends of the East River Esplanade, which she founded in 2007, has taken “hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours.”

In addition to building community, Ratner said the nonprofit makes the NYC Parks Department’s job easier as well, by hiring “semi-professional volunteer gardeners” who work on beautifying the esplanade. Volunteers also install public artwork on the esplanade, which can be seen along its East Harlem stretch.

Yet what Ratner may specialize in most is her advocacy work, which she said is usually “behind-the-scenes.” However, it often spills over into public initiatives such as the circulation of petitions, which generates massive community momentum.

A major focus for Ratner is engaging with stakeholders to keep the Esplanade open, as the space is often disrupted by large-scale construction. One standout example is an ongoing 12-block closure, beginning at East 71st Street, caused by a Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) expansion project. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it has caused extensive local frustration.

Interestingly enough, Ratner serves alongside an HSS representative on the Esplanade’s board. There are also board members associated with Rockefeller University, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, and NewYork-Presbyterian. Many of these entities have property on the Esplanade. Ratner told Our Town that having such representatives on the board has been a “win” for Friends of the East River Esplanade, and a win for their organizations as well.

Yet it also gives her leverage to fight for her neighbors who use the Esplanade as a means for recreation. These local residents view the greenway as a crown jewel of public space that should be maximally accessible.

This mentality, which Ratner shares, is what led her to founding the conservancy in the first place. “We started as a small grassroots organization,” she said. “I’ve lived in this area, within a block or so of the Esplanade, for almost my entire life. I’m almost 60. When my son was little, we would bike on the waterfront, and I would teach him how to bike. I would wonder what was going on with the state of the Esplanade.”

Indeed, Ratner believes that the only way to grow Friends of the East River Esplanade is by relying on that same grassroots ethos. “We get funding from the city and the state, as well as some small grants,” she said. Most funding, however, comes from individuals contributing to the cause. “Just like any other parks conservancy, we run on donations. We’re looking for people to donate on a regular basis, so that all of our great programming can continue.”