A Day at the Park
Slideshow by Matt Chaban
The rain could not diminish the majesty of opening day at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
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Welcome!
The Rise, the main lawn at Pier 1 of Brooklyn Bridge Park, was host to a ribbon cutting ceremony today for the recently completed first piece of the grand 85-acre park on the shores of the East River.
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The Designers
Matt Urbanski, the principal-in-charge of the park at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, and Van Valkenburgh himself, have been working on the park for a dozen years.
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Big Tent
Public officials gathered for the inauguration of the park, including Regina Myer, president of the BBP Development Corp, at the lectern, Mayor Bloomberg to her right, and Governor Paterson to her left.
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Umbrellas and Ribbons
The rain held out for most of the ceremony—until everyone had to leave the tent to cut the ceremonial ribbon, at which point it began to fall in force.
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Everything but the...
A marching band an fire boat were on hand to lend some extra pomp to the proceedings, as if the greenery weren't enough.
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Transformative
Like the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge Park is intensively designed, down to its curvaceous benches.
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Rock Solid
Another nice touch: The Grand Stair leading from the water to the Rise is made from repurposed stones taken from a nearby bridge.
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Architecture, too
This office and maintenance shed is the first building completed in the park by Maryann Thompson Architects.
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Not Just Green Grass
Sustainability plays a huge role in the park, including a vast storm water retention scheme that will provide 70 percent of all irrigation. This is one of handful of sequestration ponds.
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Those Views
The Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge loom large over the park, creating one of the most dramatic and unique backdrops of open space in the city.
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Bridge Buzz
Despite the rain, children and couples came out to the park, admiring that ever-present bridge.
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Fun on Two Wheels
As did a cyclist, who was videotaping Manhattan from atop his trusty Schwinn.
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Island Ho
Governors Island, another park in the works, is clearly visible from the promenade of Pier 1.
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No Stopping
Construction continues on the park, including a pathway that will connect Piers 1 through 6.
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Seeing the future
Piles from a former pier, near the kayak launch, and Pier 2, which will not ber coming during the second phase of construction—that's the athletics-heavy Pier 5—rest just beyond Pier 1.
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Pristine
For the first season, the grass will remain closed on Pier 1 as it takes root.
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This Means You!
It's a small price to pay for yet another cutting-edge park in the city.