Staten Island’s North Shore hosts one of New York City’s largest industrial waterfronts. This area has a long history of environmental injustices from being physically separated from the rest of the borough due to the Staten Island Expressway, from contamination to industrial pollution. This area, marked by its diverse and predominantly low-income communities of color, has been disproportionately affected by industrial impacts. Staten Island’s Community District 1 is demographically distinct from the rest of Staten Island.

Historically, many neighborhoods on Staten Island’s North Shore have faced significant barriers to accessing the waterfront, despite their proximity to the Kill Van Kull. This area, characterized by its industrial activity, had limited public access points, with only three main locations: the North Shore Esplanade in St. George, Snug Harbor, and Faber Park in Port Richmond. The industrial nature of the waterfront contributed to the isolation of these communities from their waterfront. 

Progress on the Horizon

Efforts to improve access have been ongoing, with initiatives like the Staten Island North Shore Action Plan aiming to create continuous waterfront access and revitalize the area. These projects are designed to reconnect residents with their waterfront and enhance the quality of life in these historically underserved communities. 

The Waterfront Alliance completed a study in 2022 to identify small parcels of land ready to be transformed into vibrant, accessible, waterfronts in the communities they would benefit the most. This study utilized a set of factors that contribute to increased inequity to waterfront access including demographics, income levels, and climate change risks. Through the analysis of over 60 sites, they found that a parking lot on Front Street on the North Shore of Staten Island was among the top of the list.   

This parking lot is not included in the Staten Island North Shore Action Plan. It also is currently a space that is actively used for informal on-water recreational programming.  

In 2007, even before the development of plans to improve waterfront access, an all-volunteer group, Kayak Staten Island, began running an urban kayaking program to provide on-water access to a watersport that is too often cost-prohibitive for many residents of Staten Island. For over 15 years, Kayak Staten Island has engaged thousands of residents—particularly along the North Shore of Staten Island—in public events, provide the sit-on-top ocean kayaks, paddles, life vests, quick instruction, and safety support, creating important community cohesion in a historically underserved community, while also providing important opportunities for health and wellness.  Last summer Kayak Staten Island engaged over 800 people through their programming.  

Establishing a Presence

With the recent attention to this location, particularly through the design and development of the North Shore Action Plan, Kayak Staten Island led a community engagement process to learn more about what their local stakeholders and members would like to see for this site. Of the over 75 respondents: 

• 90 percent shared that they would like to see more accessible kayaking options at this location.

• 43 percent of those who had kayaked from this space felt that it was safe conditions to launch. When asked how to make it safer, several members shared that they would like to see a small dock with containers to store kayaks. They want a smoother descent through a softer entry and egress to the water.  

• 59 percent shared that they would like to see boat storage spaces near this site.

Based on this community feedback, Kayak Staten Island is developing a rendering that can be used to for activating this site—a safer boat launch, a place to store equipment and boats (boathouse or storage container), and a design for shoreline stabilization and resilience. With this rendering based on the community’s vision, Kayak Staten Island hopes to build a consistent, reliable space that the community can enjoy for generations to come. 

Looking to a Hopeful Future

The transformation of Staten Island’s North Shore waterfront represents a significant step towards rectifying historical environmental injustices and providing equitable access to natural resources. The efforts of community groups like Kayak Staten Island, combined with strategic planning and community engagement, highlight the potential for revitalizing industrial areas into vibrant, accessible spaces. By addressing the physical and social barriers that have long isolated these communities, these initiatives not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. The ongoing commitment to improving waterfront access underscores the importance of inclusive urban planning and the power of community-driven change in creating a more just and sustainable future for all.