Waterfront Alliance

Waterfront Alliance’s vision is for our waterways and coastlines to be a shared resource for all, reflecting the interconnectedness of life, work, and play. We are committed to preparing our coastal communities for the reality of sea level rise and the challenges of climate crises, creating healthy, resilient, accessible, and equitable waterways.

Our goal is to maintain vibrant waterfronts that are alive with commerce and recreation, serving as a destination that reflects the vitality and diversity of our communities.

What We Do

The Waterfront Alliance began as a project of The Municipal Art Society of New York. It became an independent organization in 2007 when a group of leading activists, businesses, foundations, and civic organizations came together with the goal of making the New York and New Jersey harbor a shared, resilient, and accessible resource for all.

Since then, the Waterfront Alliance has grown into an alliance of more than 1,100 organizations working together to bring about change to our region’s waterways, 700 miles of shoreline, and the greater nation at large. Today, the Waterfront Alliance has stepped into a new leadership role to inform and challenge the region’s response to sea level rise and coastal storms. Our crucial, long-term focus is on increasing waterfront accessibility for all, advocating for a working waterfront that is a vital source of business activity, preparing our most-impacted communities for the climate crisis, and educating the next generation of waterfront stewards.

We achieve change through collaborations, education, our own initiatives and campaigns, and by inspiring others to become changemakers.