Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, October 27, 2005

PARKS CUTS RIBBON ON HISTORIC BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK PHASE II

photo by Malcolm Pinckney

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe yesterday joined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assembly Member Joan Millman, Council Member David Yassky, Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation President Wendy Leventer, and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Co-Chairs Marianna Koval and Claude Shostal to cut the ribbon on Phase II of Brooklyn Bridge Park. This $3.7 million project included the reconstruction of the shoreline and the creation of a rocky beach and waterfront esplanade.

"This is the City’s newest waterfront park, part of the revitalization of the City’s shoreline that has become a hallmark of Mayor Bloomberg’s administration," said Commissioner Benepe. "This is also the latest milestone in a far-reaching partnership between the Mayor, Governor, residents, civic leaders, and elected officials to create an ever greater open space vision for the people of Brooklyn that will stretch from where we stand all the way to Atlantic Avenue. The thriving neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn are well on their way to getting the amenities they so urgently need."

"Today’s park opening brings us closer to our dream of converting 1.3 miles of formerly industrial waterfront to an 85-acre world-class park for all New Yorkers to enjoy," said Charles Gargano, Chairman of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation and Empire State Development Corporation. "This park will be extraordinary in offering a range of recreational opportunities, unparalleled access to the water, and wonderful views of the Harbor and Lower Manhattan. We are excited about Brooklyn Bridge Park and pleased with the partnership between government, community members and an award-winning design team that is making this park a reality."

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Phase II, bordered by the East River and Adams and Plymouth Streets, includes a newly accessible beach area and waterfront esplanade. New trees, shrubs, perennial beds, and expanses of groundcover form a natural landscape. Bluestone sidewalk pavement and an ornamental perimeter steel fence extend along Plymouth and around Adams Streets. A Manhattan Bridge-inspired gateway and new water supply, drinking fountains, irrigation system, and lighting were also added.

Brooklyn Bridge Park will be an 85-acre continuous public waterfront park stretching 1.3 miles from Atlantic Avenue to the Con Edison site north of the Manhattan Bridge. The project is jointly supported by the State and City of New York, and contains properties managed by several different public agencies. The first phase of Brooklyn Bridge Park was completed in December.

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."

Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1941)