After five years of stalling and discussions, a two-block section of the East River Esplanade between Catherine Street and Pike Slip finally got the green light to move forward as planned. The hold up, in a nutshell, was due to the Department of Environmental Protection’s plans to redo some water mains near the proposed stretch of esplanade that would have prohibited the city’s Economic Development Corporation from moving forward with the redevelopment. Those plans have now been dropped since the agency has decided that the water mains won’t need to be upgraded after all.

The esplanade is slated to feature planter-lounge seating, bar stools overlooking the East River, glider swings that hang from the FDR and fishing docks. Construction is expected to start this summer and be completed in about a year.