Photo: Charley Lhasa via Flickr
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It took a little longer than expected, but it’s not too late to catch the cherry tree blooms.
Cherry Walk, the 25-block stretch along the Hudson River in Riverside Park between 100th and 125th streets, reopened over the weekend. Initially, the iconic path was expected to be closed for six months when we reported on it in September 2024. The goal of the $1.5 million construction project was to repair the damaged stretch, which had become riddled with potholes, uneven terrain, and tree roots that had cracked through the walkway, making for difficult footing. There are now clearer signs separating cyclists and pedestrians along their designated paths.
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The 1.25-mile stretch was also a popular bike route. During construction, pedestrians and cyclists were rerouted: those heading uptown were directed to Riverside Drive via Tiemann Place and West 125th Street, while downtown-bound travelers exited the park at St. Clair Place and followed Tiemann Place to Claremont Avenue before rejoining Riverside Drive. Now, you can catch that cool breeze off the water—unimpeded.
Hailed for its cherry trees—a gift from the Committee of Japanese Residents of New York in 1909—Cherry Walk is also known as one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the spring. It’s earned a spot on the City of New York’s designated scenic landmark list, alongside spaces like Central Park, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and Verdi Square between West 72nd and 73rd Streets. The Upper West Side is certainly blessed with scenic splendor.
“The rugged bluffs and rocky outcroppings once descended directly to the Hudson River shore and were densely wooded during the Native American habitation,” states the Riverside Park website in its history of the area. In 1846, the Hudson River Railroad was cut through the forested hillside as the city expanded northward. By 1894, however, the area had become a blight—a site of unsightly dumping. That year, the state legislature expanded Riverside Park to include what is now Cherry Walk. Landscape architects Calvert Vaux (1824–1895) and Samuel Parsons (1844–1923) reimagined the space, designing a grand, tree-lined boulevard stretching along the water down to 72nd Street, with informally arranged trees and shrubs, natural enclosures, and open vistas.
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This must have happened on Saturday as Friday evening the gates were still up. So happy to have the path back. I’ve missed it.
Are bikes allowed on that path? There’s one in the photo; that’s one reason I ask? Another reason I ask: the Riverside Park Conservancy and the City Parks Dept. cops do nothing about bikes and e-bikes on paths in Riverside Park and Riverside Park South where such machines are clearly forbidden. So, it’s likely that drivers and riders are degrading the experience of the Cherry “Walk”.