WNYC Transmitter Park

Ground Is Broken On WNYC Transmitter Park

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
No. 62
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky today broke ground on a $12 million redevelopment of WNYC Transmitter Park along the East River in Brooklyn. The project includes the construction of a pier at the foot of Kent Street, an upland connection to the pier, an esplanade for passive recreation, and 1.6-acres of open space to provide residents and visitors with increased access to the Greenpoint waterfront. Construction on the park is expected to be complete in early 2012. Also in attendance at the groundbreaking were Council Member Stephen Levin, Community Board 1 Chair Christopher Olechowski, Representative to the Borough President Elizabeth Ernish, and North Brooklyn Parks Administrator Stephanie Thayer.

“Across all five boroughs we’re working to bring our waterfront back to life for recreational use by New Yorkers, and WNYC Transmitter Park will be the latest, but not the last, new park we’re bringing to Greenpoint,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Located on the site of the former WNYC radio transmission towers and a ferry terminal, this transformative project will construct a pier, park and esplanade, providing Greenpoint residents with increased access to the spectacular East River waterfront. I am grateful to Mayor Bloomberg, the Borough President, the City Council and federal and state grants for providing $12 million toward this project, and to EDC for managing the site’s redevelopment.”

“Increasing public access to our waterfronts is a key part of the City’s efforts to transform neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs,” said NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky. “Turning this underutilized site into a new park, pier and esplanade will help to revitalize Greenpoint and help us realize our vision of creating continuous corridors of waterfront open space throughout the City.”
“The groundbreaking for the new Transmitter Park is a very exciting moment for the City,” said NYC Department of City Planning Director Amanda Burden. “It wasn’t so long ago that this waterfront was completely fenced off from the public and badly deteriorating. This new waterfront park will be an excellent asset to the neighborhood and brings us one step closer to achieving an important goal in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg rezoning plan: returning this waterfront to the community by providing complete and continuous public access along the shore.”
The transformation of WNYC Transmitter Park builds on the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg rezoning which creates a framework to provide continuous public access to the area’s shorefront. Located on the site of the former WNYC radio transmission towers, the new park will include a pier at the end of Kent Street consisting of concrete platforms connected by aluminum bridges, a new overlook to the south, new seating, and a waterfront esplanade that will provide connections to adjacent sites. A pedestrian bridge will be built across an excavated historic ferry slip and restored as a wetland accessible to visitors. The center of the park will include a large, open lawn with a separate children’s play area featuring a nautical theme to reflect the site’s context. It will also include a spray shower and nature gardens.
NYCEDC is overseeing the construction of the park, which is expected to be complete in early 2012. Upon completion of construction, NYCEDC will transfer operations to Parks. Funding for the $12 million project includes $9.6 million in city capital funds allocated by Mayor Bloomberg, $500,000 allocated by the New York City Council, $400,000 allocated by Borough President Markowitz, a more than $1.1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration and $370,000 in grants from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, administered by the New York State Department of State.
WNYC Transmitter Park was designed by EDAW/McLaren Engineering Group/WXY architecture + urban design with The LiRo Group as resident engineer, and Phoenix Marine Co., Inc. as contractor.