Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn

With two of its six “piers” currently open to the public, Brooklyn Bridge Park is shaping up to be one of Brooklyn’s (I might even go so far as to say New York City’s) most lovely parks.

Pier 1, almost nine acres of park just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, offers breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty from a 1,300 foot long promenade on the East River. You might feel as though you can reach out and touch the South Street Seaport or the Brooklyn Bridge itself. Though the diminutive trees are reminders of the newness of this park, its rolling hills and placid pond – which reflects the Empire State Building from the right angle – feel as though they’ve always been a natural part of the Brooklyn water front. A playground for small children can keep the youngsters occupied while you watch the New York City Water Taxis and cruise boats glide by.

Park planners have taken many environmental concerns into consideration, building the “Granite Prospect,” a grand set of steps down to the water, from salvaged stone collected from the Roosevelt Island Bridge reconstruction project. Sophisticated drainage systems will collect rainwater, recycling it to nourish the shrubs and lawns throughout the park.

With several years before its full completion, Brooklyn Bridge Park will eventually offer 85 acres of lawns, beaches, playgrounds, and indoor and outdoor recreation areas. Already, however, New Yorkers are packing its shores for summer events like film screenings, swing dancing, and opera concerts. Grab a home-made cone at the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory, just outside the entrance, and join them!

-story and photos by Ariella Saperstein

Good Idea

Visit new places, new parks. Being a part of history by going to a newly-opened attraction is a unique experience, one that mixes well with visits to time-honored museums, and favorite spots, storied with memories. If you get a chance to see Brooklyn Bridge Park, you’ll see the evolution of a beautiful place, something that will be there for generations, but will enevitably change and evolve. It is city planning in progress. It is a new green space.

Deets

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1, Brooklyn Heights, open daily from 6a to 1a