Harlem residents have a sinking feeling about a huge safety hazard along the East River Esplanade. NY1's Susan Jhun filed the following NY1 for You report.
There's a hole along the walkway along the East River Esplanade that runners, cyclists and pedestrians who use it can't miss.
"It's huge. It's huge," said Clark Pena of El Barrio Unite.
So huge, it blocks a portion of the esplanade at 119th Street.
Those in the area say the hole has been there for two months now and it just keeps growing.
"I'm kind of disappointed that it doesn't seem to be anything done," said runner Steven Lawrence.
The cavernous hole and makeshift barricades are a huge safety hazard to pedestrians, runners and cyclists, especially at night.
"In the nighttime, anyone could go past these barricades, a child, and they could fall in this deep hole," Pena said.
"It's pretty dangerous, especially if you're a nighttime runner," said runner Byron Cordero.
"The fact of the matter is, the infrastructure of this area seems to be crumbling literally underneath us," Pena said.
"I used to run here, and it seemed fine, and then it just appeared, and then it makes me wonder what else around here is about to give way," Lawrence said.
NY1 for You questioned the Parks Department about the hole on its property, and a spokesman said Parks has awarded a contract to address this and other issues along the esplanade. He went on to say the agency expects work to begin shortly and the sinkhole to be repaired by the end of June.
As far as the infrastructure, the Parks spokesman said the agency is undertaking a massive renovation to the entire esplanade.
NY1 for You will keep you updated.