Cadman Plaza Park

Cadman Plaza Is November’s Park Of The Month

Just months after its recent restoration, Cadman Plaza Park is a bustling hive of activity in Downtown Brooklyn and a deserving recipient of the Park of the Month designation.

“The restored Cadman Plaza Park is a jewel of Downtown Brooklyn,” said Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We transformed a central lawn area that used to resemble a dustbowl and mud puddle, into a sustainable synthetic turf greenspace. Now children will be able to play on a surface that is usable year-round and is environmentally appropriate because it uses recycled materials and doesn't require the use of chemical pesticides or fossil fuels to maintain it. We also removed excess asphalt pathways and replaced them with a great deal of natural greenspace including new grass lawns, planting beds, and trees. I am grateful to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Councilman David Yassky for allocating $3 million to revitalize this neighborhood oasis.”

Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn was transformed thanks to an over $3 million restoration. Mayor Bloomberg allocated $2.9 million and Council Member Yassky allocated over $140,000 to reconstruct this popular neighborhood park.

Today, Cadman Plaza looks amazing but until just recently its central greenspace left something to be desired. As one of the area's few open spaces, the lawn became increasingly popular as a place for children to play. The daily beat of hundreds of feet transformed the lawn into a dust bowl - or a mud puddle when it rained.

After extensive community review, Parks installed a synthetic turf surface. Its benefits are innumerable. Turf is useable year-round, requires less maintenance, and is environmentally friendly because it uses recycled materials and does not require chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

In designing the new park, its natural grass was also increased by 20%. Surrounding the synthetic turf green space are new lawns and natural planted areas including an entrance garden, trees, and lawns.

The City of New York acquired this land in 1935, and in 1939 it was named after Reverend Dr. Samuel Parkes Cadman (1864-1936), a famed Brooklyn Congregational minister.

Park of the Month introduces some our greatest parks and greenspaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike. Visit www.nyc.gov/parks for more information about Cadman Plaza and an archive of past featured parks.