Harlem River Park

Harlem River Park encompasses approximately 9 acres along the Harlem River in East Harlem, running near East 128th Street between Second and Third Avenues along the Harlem River Drive. The park provides waterfront access and recreation space in a part of Manhattan where the river is often obscured by highway infrastructure.

The Harlem River separates Manhattan from the Bronx and connects the Hudson River to the East River via the Harlem River Ship Canal. Once an important commercial waterway, the river's banks were largely claimed by highways and rail lines during the mid-20th century, cutting neighborhoods off from the water.

The park includes playing fields, pathways, and areas with views across the river to the Bronx. One of its most notable features is the Crack Is Wack Playground, named for the famous 1986 mural by artist Keith Haring that stands adjacent to the park on a handball court wall. Haring painted the mural as a public statement against the crack cocaine epidemic that was devastating the neighborhood.

Haring's mural, executed in his signature bold, graphic style, became one of the most recognized works of public art in New York City. It was initially created without permission and triggered Haring's arrest, but public support led to its preservation. It was restored in 2007 and remains a powerful piece of community art.

Harlem River Park and its surrounding waterfront represent an ongoing opportunity to reconnect East Harlem with the river. Community advocates have pushed for improved waterfront access, better pedestrian crossings over the Harlem River Drive, and enhanced park amenities that would make the river a more integral part of daily life in the neighborhood.