Mayor de Blasio speaks at the ribbon cutting for the final section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Image Credit: Mayor’s Office.
The addition completes the park’s original design. On December 9, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio, elected officials and community leaders joined together to cut the ribbon on the final section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The section, located underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, will be named Emily Warren Roebling Plaza after Emily Warren Roebling, whose work helped ensure the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. The section connects the already completed DUMBO section and southern piers of the park.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a 1.3 mile stretch from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street along the East River. The park, which covers 85 acres, was previously a dilapidated industrial waterfront. Since 2010, the park has been built in portions, adding green space, playgrounds, courts and other spaces to the riverside. The addition of the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza completes the original design of the park.
The Emily Warren Roebling Plaza adds two acres of parkland and serves as a flexible public plaza. As it connects other sections of the park together, the new plaza helps with the flow of pedestrian traffic. The plaza has a large hardscape area with concrete pavers that share similar patterns to the Brooklyn Bridge. The plaza is surrounded by benches, lawns and trees, and contains over one hundred protective bollards between Old Fulton Street and Furman Street to Water Street and New Dock Street. It is adjacent to the Empire Fulton Ferry lawn, which reopened earlier this year.
Mayor de Blasio stated, “Brooklyn Bridge Park is a spectacular example of how our administration has delivered unprecedented public access to New York City’s waterfront. The completion of Brooklyn Bridge Park with the addition of this iconic new space beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, fittingly named for Emily Warren Roebling, is a tremendous accomplishment for the borough and the City. Just over 10 years ago, this was an abandoned waterfront, and today it’s an 85 acre urban oasis enjoyed by millions of people.”
Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff stated, “The opening of the final section of Brooklyn Bridge Park is a dream realized. Increasing public access and adding open space is integral to improving the quality of life for New Yorkers throughout our city, and that is not a luxury, but a necessity. With the addition of this space under the majestic Brooklyn Bridge, this park fortifies itself as a coveted destination for those seeking recreation, relaxation, and an opportunity to admire history. We are thrilled that this section will bear the name of Emily Warren Roebling, so we can never forget her role as the woman responsible for bringing the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge to the finish line.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)