About Us

The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is the voice of nearly 400 organizations with ties to our regional waterways. Together we are working to transform the waters of New York and New Jersey Harbor into clean and accessible places to learn, work and play, with inviting parks, dependable jobs and reliable, eco-friendly transportation for all.

The organization was founded as a project of the Municipal Art Society of New York in 2000 and spun off as an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2007. The staff has grown from two to more than a dozen (including several consultants and interns) and the Board of Trustees continues to develop into a strong and diverse team.

By means of steady outreach that acknowledges the range of opinions and agendas within the Alliance, the MWA is guiding the entire diverse waterfront community into an organized political movement.

• In 2008, our Alliance Partners created a clear and comprehensive Waterfront Action Agenda that delineated crucial yet practical actions that will result in widespread improvement to the waterfront.
• As political campaigns heat up across New York and New Jersey, we are making sure that hundreds of candidates are informed about important waterfront issues.
• Every two weeks, WaterWire, a detailed round-up of waterfront news and a platform for dialogue between Alliance Partners, reaches thousands of readers.
• As a co-sponsor of Quadricentennial events, the MWA is co-hosting H209, an important waterfront conference in September.
• City of Water Day, an annual free celebration of the potential of the NY/NJ Harbor and its tributaries, fulfills its billing as “Fun with a Purpose,” teaching newcomers about environmental health, social justice and wise development as these issues pertain to the waterways, all in an atmosphere of fun and high spirits.

The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance offers insightful, innovative ideas for the future of our waterfront at a time when critical land use, regulatory, and environmental decisions are being made. The MWA has had some early success, including driving the creation of a distinct "Waterfront Committee" on the City Council and our advocacy for a robust and affordable ferry transit system, which City Council Speaker Christine Quinn recently announced as a major new initiative.

There is much more to do, and all waterfront stakeholders must contribute to the dialogue and take action. What we achieve today will determine the accessibility and cleanliness of the waterways of tomorrow.