Charting a Greener Future: CREST Joins Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s 2025 Harlem River Watershed Revitalization Boat Tour

The CUNY CREST Institute was honored to participate in Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s 2025 Harlem River Watershed Revitalization Boat Tour on October 2, 2025. The tour provided a valuable opportunity to engage with community members and partners while learning more about impactful initiatives shaping the future of the Harlem River and surrounding neighborhoods.

Members of the CREST community in attendance included Dr. Shakila Merchant, Dr. Vartika Chandra Saman, Mr. Cesar Ortiz, Ms. Srishti Tyagi, and students Ms. Mame Diarra Gueye, Ms. Carolina Perez, and Ms. Anais Ortega. Speakers shared updates on key projects focused on greenways, waterways, water quality, and environmental resilience, highlighting collaborative efforts to strengthen the region’s environmental health. 

A special highlight of the tour was the opportunity for students Carolina Perez and Anais Ortega to share insights from their ongoing research on living shorelines and green infrastructure, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Shakila Merchant. Their work underscored the importance of student-driven research and innovation in advancing local environmental solutions.

We extend our thanks to NY-13 Representative Adriano Espaillat, Hudson River Foundation, Harlem River Working Group, several other community members, organizers, partners, and community stakeholders and NYC City Officials, for fostering such an inspiring and collaborative experience. CREST is proud to contribute to these important conversations and efforts supporting the Harlem River watershed and beyond.