Waterfront Alliance partnered with the Oceantic Network for the 2026 IPF: Energy at Sea Conference in New York City—the premier gathering for the marine renewable energy and ocean economy sectors. At IPF, global leaders, innovators, and supply chain experts came together to move from ideas to action.

We reach more than 1,300 WEDG Associates who are credentialed in the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines, advancing resilient, equitable, and ecologically sound waterfront design nationwide.

We produce “Flood Sensor Aunty” performances to translate flood preparedness into public education.

We advance a community-informed resilience plan for Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, engaging hundreds of residents across six languages, and supporting research and planning that promotes nature-based solutions such as creek daylighting, expanded stormwater capacity, and improved access to underutilized waterfront sites.

Denver River Mile is verified at the as the first riverine project under WEDG Version 3.0.

We continue to organize 75+ City of Water Day events across the region, engaging over 10,000 participants in hands-on waterfront programming that builds connection and stewardship. We convene 765 attendees at the Waterfront Conference across 22 sessions to advance solutions for resilient and equitable coastlines, and we host 14 public webinars and 11 Climate Week programs that expand access to timely research, policy dialogue, and community-driven climate action.

We deliver three WEDG professional training courses in addition to self-paced certification.

We convene a Mayoral Waterfront Forum, publish a First 100 Days Platform outlining priority actions for the next city administration, and participate in the NYC mayoral transition process to advise on resilience and infrastructure priorities.

We advance a policy agenda by delivering 20+ testimonies before City Council and state bodies.

We host 50+ community events focused on flood preparedness, extreme heat, and resilience resources.

We engage more than 5,000 residents through Climate Informed Communities programming.

We train educators through professional development sessions, including two teacher trainings and a Teacher Appreciation Day for educators.

We introduce the Green and Blue Career Guide connecting students to climate-related career pathways.

We reach more than 1,500 students through the Estuary Explorers program.

We reach a record-breaking 1,300 New York City students during the 2023-2024 school year through Estuary Explorers, our hands-on climate and waterfront education program.

We champion the successful passage of three climate resilience bills in the 2024 New York State Legislative session: Alternative Delivery, Public Notice, and the Green Roof Tax Abatement. These pieces of legislation will help deliver climate resilient infrastructure more quickly and efficiently and incentivize the implementation of green roofs across New York City.

We release the first formal Waterfront Alliance Policy Platform, laying out our 2024 legislative priorities and a roadmap for change.

We organize the first in-person Rise to Resilience Coalition “Advocacy Day” in Albany, NY and complete a total of 24 meetings with State Senators and Assemblymembers, positioning our climate resilience priorities front and center for key decision makers.  

We produce a “Know Your Rights” video and training series to help people understand how climate impacts will affect them and how to prepare themselves, their families, and their homes.

We present our “Know Your Rights” training and resources to more than one hundred community organizers, agency employees, and local leaders at the March 6, 2024 Community Preparedness Symposium organized by the NYC Office of Emergency Management.

The Illinois Beach State Park Shoreline Stabilization Project becomes the first WEDG Verified site on a freshwater waterbody and the first breakwaters, Great Lakes, and rural project to achieve WEDG Verification.

We launch the Youth Ambassadors for Climate Resilience program to train Estuary Explorers student alumni on educating and preparing their families and neighbors for extreme weather events.

During our full-day Estuary Explorers Teacher Training, educators earn Continuing Education Credits and learn how to incorporate climate change lesson plans directly into their public school classrooms throughout New York City.

Waterfront Alliance completes an existing conditions assessment of Flushing Meadows Corona Park to understand the most significant flooding concerns.

The South Battery Park City Resiliency Project becomes the 13th project nationally to achieve WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Verification.

Waterfront Alliance joins the Extreme Heat Coalition, joining WE ACT, Earth Justice, and South Bronx Unite, and others, advocating for heat adaptation legislation at the state and city levels.

Waterfront Alliance's Estuary Explorers Teacher Training program earns Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) sponsor status, now offering 4 CTLE credits to participating educators and professional development in climate change education, lesson plan integration, and networking with peers.

We host our second New York City Council “Teach-In” with WE ACT for Environmental Justice and New York League of Conservation Voters to share our collective climate resilience priorities with City Councilmembers and their staff.

The Rise to Resilience Coalition publishes the 2024 Policy Platform to establish a roadmap and priorities for advancing comprehensive climate resilience.

The next version of WEDG is launched and covers freshwater systems, formally establishing WEDG as a fully national standard for waterfront design.

Offshore wind developers in New York and New Jersey sign on for WEDG commitments in their bids for offshore wind projects.

We bring STEM-based climate and waterfront education to more than 1,200 students and 36 classrooms across New York City through Estuary Explorers.

Waterfront Alliance launches Climate Informed Communities, a new community organizing based program to bring climate preparedness resources and infrastructure planning processes to New York City communities.

We launch a climate hazards study of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, NY, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

With more than 180 community volunteers, we cleanup 3,600 pounds of trash from waterways and coastlines through our Coastal Clean-up program.

We publish the Waterfront Alliance Climate Hazard Resource Guide, a centralized database of all available resources relating to climate hazards in the New York and New Jersey region.

We establish the Waterfront Alliance Corporate Council to leverage and catalyze decision-making on climate resilience across the region.

The first-ever cohort of high school students, from the New York Harbor School, complete the WEDG Professionals Course, preparing them to pursue education and careers in climate resilient design.

Following years of advocacy by Waterfront Alliance and our partners, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issues a directive to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that would result in better protections for millions of New York and New Jersey residents.

We sign the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, an effort to keep global warming to below 1.5C.

We launch a comprehensive climate resilience planning effort for Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York.

The New York Climate Exchange on Governor's Island selects Waterfront Alliance as an early partner and leadership advisor.

Mayor Adams appoints Waterfront Alliance President and CEO Cortney Koenig Worrall as one of the 26 members of the New York City Sustainability Advisory Board to guide the City’s long-term resilience and sustainability goals.

Waterfront Alliance Director of Programs and Climate Initiatives, Furhana Husani, receives the prestigious Women of the Month award from the Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.

Jose Marti Park in Miami becomes the first project in Florida and twelfth nationally to receive WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Verification—the gold standard in waterfront design.

With the Rise to Resilience Coalition, spearheaded by the Waterfront Alliance, we campaign the New York State legislature and they pass comprehensive flood disclosure for all home sales in the state of New York. This now ensures all home buyers and renters in New York state will be fully informed about the risks of flooding.

With the Rise to Resilience Coalition, we campaign the New Jersey State Legislature, which unanimously passes sate-wide flood risk legislation, ensuring New Jersey home buyers and renters are fully informed about the risks of flooding.

With the Rise to Resilience Coalition, we spearhead and are joined by 46 organizations calling for greater focus on environmental justice, nature-based solutions, and more public participation opportunities in New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study—a plan to protect the entire region from the next major hurricane.

In May 2023, Waterfront Alliance's WEDG program is accepted by GRESB, the national environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmark for real estate assets, for full points as a component of their certification.

We welcome a record-breaking 680+ people to the 16th Annual Waterfront Conference.

With the Rise to Resilience Coalition, spearheaded by the Waterfront Alliance, we push New York state to pass legislation requiring disclosure of all known flood risks and historic flooding for renters, many of whom lost their lives in Hurricane Ida.

Waterfront Alliance attends the COP27 Summit in Egypt to address the climate crisis on behalf of our region and Nation.

We launch an online self-paced version of the WEDG Professionals course.

The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project in Manhattan becomes the 11th WEDG Verified project.

The City of Miami, Florida now requires consideration of WEDG for all storm water and flood mitigation related projects.

We develop and release the Climate Resilience Literacy Handbook, with technical support from the Columbia Climate School.

We secure a grant from Congressmember Grace Meng to develop a climate resilience plan for Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.

More than 50 organizations host local events at the 15th annual City of Water Day, and we showcase climate art for the third year with Art at the BlueLine in Lower Manhattan.

We release a waterfront access report—a critical advocacy tool for equitable waterfront access and recreation across New York City.

We produce a Maritime Activation Plan for Harlem River, Fordham Landing that analyzes and proposes a series of waterfront activation strategies to balance social, economic, and environmental priorities.

The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act passes with resounding support and dedicates $4 billion in funding for environmental programs and climate resilience and adaption projects.

We advocate for and receive singular credit for Mayor de Blasio’s permanent funding of the nationally recognized New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate Resiliency (MOCR).

Our advocacy efforts with the Rise to Resilience coalition lead to multiple federal, state, and locate victories, including a $1.45M commitment in the federal budget to restart the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study, a statewide New Jersey climate resilience plan, and restored funding of $5.1M to New York City Council’s “A Greener New York City” initiative.

We hold the third WEDG® Professionals course, bringing the total number of WEDG Professionals trained to date to 300+ individuals from around the country.

North Waterfront Park in Wilmington, North Carolina becomes the 10th WEDG Verified project, and is the first project outside the metropolitan region to achieve verification in the nationally applicable version of WEDG.

Estuary Explorers reaches more than 1,000 students in all five boroughs and New Jersey through virtual classes.

We launch “Resiliency Starts Today,” a guide for the first 100 days of the next Mayor of New York City, that recommends achievable measures to leverage our waterways and waterfronts for New York City’s well-being.

We help to successfully pass New York City Intro 2092 (climate design guidelines), a bill that will require all City-funded buildings and infrastructure to be designed to withstand climate threats across a $90 billion capital portfolio.

Our leadership with the New York City Council helps restore full funding—$5.1M—to “A Greener New York City” initiative, which provides conservation, green-jobs, and environmental education funding to nonprofits across New York City, including the Waterfront Alliance.

Rise to Resilience successfully passes Intro 1620 (local law 122), a five-borough climate adaptation planning process for New York City.

We issue the “Waterfront and Resilience Platform for the Next Mayor of New York City,” which calls on the next Mayor of New York City to ensure the City’s 520 miles of waterfront are a major priority for the administration. We receive commitments from each major candidate, and most importantly from Democratic candidate, Eric Adams, who prioritizes climate resilience, planning, funding, and programs to protect the most vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change.

Congress passes the Waterfront Resources Development Act (2020), requiring nature-based and community-driven solutions to flooding for the New York–New Jersey Harbor, and nationwide.

Rise to Resilience Coalition launches and grows to 90+ partners.

Bronx Point becomes the 9th WEDG® Verified project and is the first affordable housing project to be verified.

North Waterfront Park in North Carolina becomes our first out-of-region WEDG® Verified project.

Estuary Explorers' "Coastal Science in Your Kitchen" educational curriculum reaches 11,000 students and 116 schools.

We organize 5 public workshops, including 600+ participants, with NYC Planning to inform New York City’s next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.

140 individuals become WEDG® Professionals.

We secure nature-based and community-based priorities in the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, federal legislation that directs the work of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

We convene both the Resilience Task Force and Public Access for All Task Force, bringing together 500+ leaders to discuss resources needed to expand climate adaptation, as well as developments that prioritize access to the waterfront.

30 Community boards, in New York City, across all five boroughs, take our WEDG® Pledge calling for resilience, access, and ecology in new waterfront construction.

We host an offshore wind forum that brings together 150+ industry experts to discuss the activation of offshore wind in the New York Harbor.

We open Brooklyn Bridge Beach to the public for new educational ventures, including City of Water Day and Climate Science On The Sand.

WEDG® is awarded the American Planning Association’s Gold National Planning Achievement Award for a Best Practice.

We introduce legislation for the first Mayor’s Office of the Waterfront.

We launch our newest educational program called Estuary Explorers that in its first season provides hands-on science education to more than 700 middle school students and their teachers.

We release nationally applicable Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines and create our first out of region partnership in Camden/Philadelphia.

We create our second Maritime Activation Plan, this one for Governors Island.

We launch New York City's first Harbor Scorecard on the steps of City Hall—a groundbreaking tool that offers a neighborhood-by-neighborhood assessment of waterfront access, water quality, and coastal flood risk.

Two new projects are WEDG-certified: Starlight Park in the Bronx and Greenpoint Landing in Brooklyn, bringing our total to seven WEDG-certified projects to date.

We create our first Maritime Activation Plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park, to help them better utilize and integrate their 1.3 miles of shoreline.

We celebrate our 10th anniversary in October with our annual Heroes of the Harbor gala, attended by nearly 500 guests.

The Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) program receives the Leadership Award at the World Canals Conference in Inverness, Scotland.

Aloha, Hōkūle‘a! The Polynesian voyaging canoe stops in New York City on her worldwide voyage, with many of her activities taking place at the Community Eco Dock at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens.

Harbor Camp has provided free educational on-water and waterfront educational programs to 20,000 since its inception and is celebrated at the annual Heroes of the Harbor Award Dinner and Parade of Boats.

We announce our new name: Waterfront Alliance.

We release the report Climate Change Accounting: What Is the Cost? at the Waterfront Conference, with a call to action for a presidential commission to address the region’s flood risk after Hurricane Sandy.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announces five-borough ferry service for New York City to launch in 2017, one of the biggest victories for the Waterfront Alliance after years of advocacy.

Version 1.0 of the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) debuts at a standing-room-only event at the AIA Center for Architecture, followed by a month-long exhibit.

More than 25,000 people attend the City of Water Day festival at Governors Island, New York; Maxwell Place Park, Hoboken, New Jersey; and 35 In Your Neighborhood locations.

We work with NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and local partners Long Island City Community Boathouse and HarborLAB to open the Gantry Plaza State Park Community Eco Dock.

The Waterfront Conference features a New York City mayoral forum with all major candidates, including Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller John Liu, and former Comptroller William Thompson sharing their visions for the waterfront.

We join NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, local elected leaders, and community groups to celebrate the opening of the Bay Ridge Community Eco Dock for human-powered boating and environmental education.

We ask all candidates for public office in New York City to put their commitment to the future of our waterfront on the record. We publish responses from more than 40 candidates across the five boroughs, and 22 eventual winners. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and others endorse the Waterfront Platform for New York City.

Harbor Camp reaches more than 9,000 children served.

We and our partners in the Harbor Coalition propose the federal Harbor Act as a way to bring more federal waterfront funds to the region.

Roland Lewis presides as chair of the 4th annual Urban Waterfronts Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

More than 650 people attend the Waterfront Conference, and the New York-New Jersey Harbor Coalition publicly launches.

The third Community Eco Dock is funded—this time in Manhattan, at Dyckman Marina in Inwood.

More than 660 organizations are now Alliance Partners.

Ongoing work with New York City leads to the first New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan in 18 years.

The second Community Eco Dock gets its funding—this one for Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The first phase of five-borough ferry service begins with the launch of East River Ferry service.

City of Water Day festival goes harbor-wide with six In Your Neighborhood sites.

Mini conference, the 2011 Floating Follow-up, attracts more than 400 participants and four U.S. congressional representatives.

For the first time, the public is able to view the Parade of Boats at Hudson River Park during the Heroes of the Harbor Award Dinner.

We release the report Improving Waterfront Permitting in the New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary, with 26 recommendations for waterfront permitting reform.

The first Community Eco Dock is funded; it’s at the 69th Street Pier in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

The Harbor Coalition is formed to bring significant federal funds to New York Harbor.

Our Alliance Partners now include more than 450 organizations.

More than 600 people attend the Waterfront Conference, where the State of the Waterfront report is released.

Task Force meetings contribute ideas to New York City’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan to open up and improve all 520 miles of New York’s waterfront.

Working with the New York City Council, we draft and champion legislation to reinstate the Waterfront Management Advisory Board, leading to the first update of New York City’s Comprehensive Waterfront Plan in 18 years.

Some 500 leaders attend the Waterfront Conference, where our policy platform, the Waterfront Action Agenda, and six detailed waterfront policy white papers are presented.

The first Heroes of the Harbor Award Dinner and Parade of Boats is held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers.

The (Metropolitan) Waterfront Alliance becomes an independent organization, after being launched as a project of The Municipal Art Society of New York.