Brooklyn Bridge Park: An Urban Oasis

This summer and fall, take advantage of the myriad recreational, cultural and educational events -- most of them free -- at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Thanks to beautiful landscaping and killer views, the park is an urban oasis of sorts. And in addition to scenary, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, in partnership with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (also known as Brooklyn Bridge Park), have programmed a bevy of events. There is literally something for everyone.

“We [the Conservancy and Brooklyn Bridge Park] want to offer a variety of free events and activities that appeal to a wide variety of folks," said Nancy Webster, the Executive Director at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. We want to "bring people down to the park to both enliven and enrich their experiences of living in New York City and to enliven and enrich the Brooklyn Bridge Park as a public space that serves the citizens of our country."

With goals like that, it's no wonder the programming is so rich.

Both the Conservancy and the Brooklyn Bridge Park work together when it comes to the programming of the events. And they've learned what works and doesn't work.

“The Conservancy has been doing the programming for Brooklyn Bridge Park for the past 12 years and over those years we’ve tried a lot of different things and sort of engaged in some trial and efforts,” said Webster.

Ellen Ryan, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Brooklyn Bridge Park, said when making programming decisions, they often look for interesting sponsors to partner with. She added that keeping the park active and keeping the park just a park is also a big part of the planning.

"We always try to strike a balance among events and times when the park is available for quiet reflection or impromptu picnics or Frisbee games,” she said. “Visitors can count on Brooklyn Bridge Park as a destination for quiet reflection, enjoyment of the natural setting and relaxed strolling, day or night,” said Ryan.

Occasional events at the park are ticketed, but the majority of events at the park this summer are free.

Free events include the 12th annual outdoor movie series that takes place on Thursday evenings in July and August, kayaking and canoeing down the East River that takes place primarily on weekends and fitness classes and waterfront workouts that are held at Pier 1 up to four days a week.

"We [Brooklyn Bridge Park] hope that the free walk-up kayaking and exercise classes, as well as the environmental education, allows people to see the range that Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer in terms of its recreational capacity, its stunning views and its rich bounty of flora and fauna,” said Ryan.

Residents are definitely enjoying the park.

“Going to movies on the lawn is a way to get to know people and it’s just like having an outdoor picnic – you bring your own wine, even though you’re not supposed to, and your munchies,” said Sarah Caro, a native Brooklynite, who spends time at Brooklyn Bridge Park with her husband Ruben almost every day.

“And the park is great for people-watching,” said Ruben Caro, who was also born and raised in Brooklyn.

The Caro’s are avid attendees of Brooklyn Bride Park’s movie nights and concerts – Sarah Caro has even attended the zumba classes held on Pier 1.

This summer at the park there will also be free participatory tours of the East River marine life and the New York estuary, educational activities that will focus on the history of the site that the Brooklyn Bridge Park occupies, sessions with New York amateur astronomers on Thursday evenings and the Metropolitan Opera.

In addition to these activities, the park features never before seen events like the newly implemented chess series on Wednesday evenings and the upcoming , a family-friendly event featuring puppetry and music on June 19.

Jazzmobile, the pioneer mobile music presenter, features Brooklyn’s own jazz legend on August 2 at Pier 1.

Most of the parks programming from last summer has made its way into this summer’s lineup, only with more offerings and appearances. Due to the park events’ escalating popularity, “the programming has just grown and expanded,” said Webster.

During the summer of 2010 approximately 70,000 people made their way to the park to revel in the free events.

“I think the park is a great addition to the neighborhood – I come here to think and to read because it’s a quiet place,” said Jaime Figueroa, a Brooklyn resident who visits the park every three to four days. “I’ve always loved the water so I come here to listen to the water hitting up against the piers – it’s very relaxing,” said Figueroa as he sat on the bench at Pier 6 and gazed out into the East River as his dog Penny sat calmly at his side.

Although Brooklyn Bridge Park is still under construction, Pier 1, Pier 6, the Main Street Lot and the bike and pedestrian paths that connect piers one through six continue to fulfill the recreational needs of park-goers.

Volleyball enthusiasts wasted no time in christening the three new sand volleyball courts that opened this past month at Pier 6.

“They made the volleyball area like a beach – it’s pretty cool,” said Dolores Calarco, a native Brooklynite, who often goes on power-walks through the park.

When park visitors are done playing volleyball, biking, jogging or soaking up the sun, they can grab refreshments.

“The park is also a great destination for excellent cuisine,” said Ryan.

Pier 1 options include Ditch Plains Drop-In, the Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar, Calexico Carne Asada and Blue Marble Ice Cream. At Pier 6 visitors can enjoy Bark Hot Dogs, Milk Truck Grilled Cheese, Uncle Louie G’s Italian ice and ice cream and Blue Marble Ice Cream.

Opening later this summer at the park is be the Empire-Fulton Ferry Park. Jane’s Carousel, a restored 1922 carousel that was donated to Brooklyn Bridge Park by Jane and David Walentas, will be on site. The carousel will be open for rides this summer.

In 2012, Pier 5 is scheduled to open, which will include three multi-purpose soccer fields and a picnic peninsula on the uplands. And by 2013, two-thirds of Brooklyn Bridge Park are scheduled to be completed. (If promised does in fact come through.)

The Conservancy and Brooklyn Bridge Park welcome suggestions from the community for future park programming.

“We’re always open to new ideas – sometimes people will approach us with ideas and we will incorporate those ideas into the parks schedule and see how they work,” said Webster.