Brooklyn Bridge Park is a waterfront park that hugs the East River for about 1.5 miles. For decades it was absolutely derelict.The area inspired plenty of mafia films. The piers were rotted. Everything was either tagged with graffiti or rusted. Old trailers were abandoned with weeds overtaking them.
But thankfully that is a thing of the past. As if you needed one more reason to come to Brooklyn (I mean, come on people!), Brooklyn Bridge Park is now a great space for the community.
At the north end of the park is Jane’s Carousel. Jane Walentas and her team painstakingly restored the horses and chairs by hand over 20 years. I love everything about this place. If I need a pick-me-up, this is where I come. Hurricane Sandy nearly spelled the end in 2012, but luckily the water receded just in time.
The park runs under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges along the piers lining the East River. This is definitely an urban, mixed-use park. It’s not a space of quiet contemplation like the Conservatory Gardens.
Large pavilions provide space for organized sports. For the record, I do none of these sports, but I like the idea of someone else doing them.
Look at these intrepid young people playing beach volleyball! Good for you, young people!
Now this is more my speed: Ample Hills Ice Cream stand. I doubt that Walt Whitman had this in mind when he wrote, “I too lived—Brooklyn of ample hills was mine,” but let’s not quibble. I had a scoop of “Baby, I was churned this way,” and it was delicious.
I thought this was a clever concept and design. It’s a curved wading pool in a protected alcove. Though it does beg what should have been the obvious question: who wants to wade into the East River? I wouldn’t go in even wearing a hazmat suit.
During the warmer months, there are concerts and events at this new bandshell. What a lovely view. See the orange Staten Island Ferry docking in Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty to the left of the frame.
The park is about 75 percent complete so construction is ongoing. The same is true of these luxury apartments being built just behind the park. A two-bedroom unit costs only $3.7 million. Who’s in?
What a bargain! And this view is free. Sweet.
There are quite a few art installations throughout the park. This one gets right to the point.
I spent hours walking the park and this just scratched the surface. There are even nature walks through the park. Check out Heather Wolf’s photo blog to see the wide variety of birds that live here.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Excellent pictures, but is Brooklyn Bridge Park not Reggie-friendly? After Milton and I saw “A Streetcar Named Desire” at St. Ann’s Warehouse last month, we gravitated straight for Jane’s Carousel … Unless I have her carousel mistaken for one that looks exactly like the one in your picture that we saw a short walk from the theater near the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges? We’re such Manhattanites, we have little idea how to get anywhere in Brooklyn, especially during the weekend when the subways are all inconveniently re-routed. Fortunately it was a great weather day to get lost in such a picturesque area.
Yes, that’s the same carousel, just behind St. Ann’s Warehouse. The story of how Jane Walentas restored the horses is fascinated. She’d bought them at auction in Ohio and shipped them to a warehouse here while she and a small team of interns painstakingly chipped away at 70 years of paint to get to the original colors. A labor of love to be sure!
Wow. Who knew all of this was in your city what a great view. Yum on the ice cream.. Yikes those apartments are wayyyy out of my price range.
Have a good weekend!
Ps. I have my name on the hold list for “Before The Fall” word on the street is that it is very good!
I’m about half-way through Before the Fall. Really, really enjoying it so far! I can’t wait to get back to it. Let me know what you think when you get it.
Well, I figured two or three of us would have to go in together on the apartment. 🙂
Hope you’re staying cool “under the dome.”
Thanks for sharing this. This looks like a great park! It will be on my “next visit” list. Great historical details too about the carousel. I’ve been above the park and near it, but never went through it. 🙂
The park is well worth a visit, Patti. There are a number of cultural and historical sites in addition to the sports activities. Fun for everyone! 🙂
I’m like you…where’s the ice cream. 🙂
Really great pictures and details!
Thanks! 🙂
What a great park. Nice photos, Jackie!
Thanks, Carole! This area has come a long way in the past few years.
I so want to come back to visit NYC. It’s been years!
Thanks for allowing me to live vicariously through your pictures.
Come for a visit! Fall is a lovely time of year in the city. 🙂
I’ll need to dream up a work-related related reason to come to NYC.