The countdown to City of Water Day 2026 officially began with plenty of cardboard, creativity, and community spirit as the beloved Cardboard Kayak Race made its triumphant return after a several-year hiatus.
Held at Manhattan Kayak at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, the Opening Ceremony brought together community organizations, government agencies, elected officials, environmental advocates, and waterfront enthusiasts for an evening that celebrated the waterways that connect us—and proved that teamwork (and a lot of duct tape) can go a long way. The event marked the official kickoff to the 19th annual City of Water Day, setting the stage for a record-breaking weekend of more than 90 free events across New York and New Jersey.
From the moment teams began sketching, cutting, and taping their kayak designs together, the atmosphere was electric. Spectators lined the pier to watch cardboard creations take shape before launching into the Hudson River, where some boats raced to victory while others… learned firsthand the importance of buoyancy.
The evening featured welcome remarks from New York State Assemblyman Micah Lasher, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, NYC Councilman Carl Wilson, Waterfront Alliance President & CEO Julie Raskin, Program Director for the New York – New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program Rob Pirani, and other special guests. Celebrity judges Rocco Vertuccio of NY1 and Waterfront Alliance board member Matthew Washington helped crown the evening’s winners.
NYS Assembly Member Micah Lasher
The return of the Cardboard Kayak Race wasn’t just about friendly competition—it was a celebration of this year’s City of Water Day theme, “Living With Water: Celebrating Access to the Waterways That Connect Us.” By bringing people together on the waterfront before the weekend’s festivities began, the race reminded us that our waterways are places to gather, explore, learn, and create lasting memories.
And the Winners Are…
Congratulations to all of this year’s teams for their incredible creativity, sportsmanship, and cardboard engineering!
Overall Winners
- 1st Place: Manhattan Kayak
- 2nd Place: New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEPendables)
- 3rd Place: New York City Department of Environmental Protection (Stormy Salamanders)
Special Awards
- Best Decorated: HNTB
- Most Innovative Design: New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEPendables)
- Most Intrepid Paddlers: NYC Economic Development Corporation (Hull Hogan)
- Teamwork Award: City Island Oyster Reef
- Most Personality: Waterfront Alliance (Waterfront Wyverns)
- Fastest Sinker (Tie): New York City Department of City Planning (Department of Cardboard Pontoons) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MO-SEA-EJ)
Whether your boat crossed the finish line or took an unexpected swim, every team helped bring this iconic City of Water Day tradition back to life.
Manhattan Kayak team
Making Waves Across the Region
The excitement didn’t stay at Pier 84. The return of the Cardboard Kayak Race captured the attention of media outlets across the region, with coverage from CBS New York, the New York Post, Gothamist, the Brooklyn Paper, northjersey.com, and many others, helping spread the word about City of Water Day and encouraging thousands of people to head out to their local waterfronts.
That momentum carried into Saturday, when communities across New York and New Jersey came together to celebrate with kayaking, sailing, fishing, shoreline cleanups, festivals, nature walks, art, science activities, and so much more.
Waterfront Alliance team members Tyler Taba and Julie Raskin
Relive the Fun
Missed the races or just want to relive your favorite splashdown?
Check out the official City of Water Day photo album to see the best moments from the evening. You can also see pictures from the Cardboard Kayak Race on the Waterfront Alliance’s Flickr page.
Then help us keep the celebration going! Share your favorite photos and memories from the Cardboard Kayak Race or City of Water Day on social media and tag @WaterfrontAlliance. We love seeing how you experienced our region’s incredible waterways.
Thank you to everyone who built a boat, cheered from the shoreline, volunteered, partnered, and celebrated with us. Cheers for another unforgettable City of Water Day!
