Brooklyn Bridge Park opened in March of 2010, transforming piers for unloading cargo into a family park. The park is broken into six long piers,and five years later the construction and add ons are still in process. Currently Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a community pool, hockey rink, soccer field, basketball court, movie showings, and smorgasburg on Sundays! Smorgasburg is a gathering of 100 vendors, with samples of their food for all to enjoy (with a view!).
Kevin Sayer and his daughter were headed to the pool with two towels in hand on a sunny Saturday afternoon. “I love how they turned nothing into something. Instead of taking my family on vacation we can enjoy any activity here without the cost of an expensive vacation.” Kevin enjoyed kayaking and sailing with his family later that day and added, “I can’t believe I get to do this all in Brooklyn!”
Elizabeth Davis, a mother of two in the park with her son Elven and his friend Sebastian, enjoyed the Hockey rink as a play date activity. “I think this park has saved my son’s summer to be honest,” she said as she watched the boys play, Davis added “It’s fun for all ages, when I want I can even have date night here with my husband.”
Although the park is a great summer hangout spot, it also has its critics. Many Brooklyn residents are complaining about the gentrification to the neighborhood. Bernie Griffith, a Brooklyn native, who has been living there for 33 years, says the neighborhood is almost unrecognizable and it feels like Brooklyn as he knows it is being taken away from him. “If I wanted a park, i’ll go to Central Park, I just want my neighborhood back. Trust me when I say i’m not the only one who feels like this!” Bernie asserted.
Overall, although some see brooklyn Bridge Park as a negative gentrification in the neighborhood they know and love, many see it as a fun new place to spend their summer without going very far. See for yourself and make your way down to piers 1-6 for a day to see for yourself!