Brooklyn Bridge ParkPhotographed June 5, 2010
After twenty years of planning, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy has begun transforming Brooklyn's piers into a waterfront parkland for residents and visitors.
Through its laborious efforts and professional guidance the Conservancy seeks to make the Park a successful social space. In their article, "What Makes a Successful Place" Project for Public Spaces prescribes four "place making tools": accessibility, comfort, activities and sociability. Existing and proposed plans for the Brooklyn Bridge Park include these as well as the seven characteristics that William Whyte lists as necessary for small urban social spaces: seating, proximity to the street, sunlight, opportunities for food, water features, trees and tree cover and elements encouraging congregation.
After twenty years of planning, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy has begun transforming Brooklyn's piers into a waterfront parkland for residents and visitors.
Through its laborious efforts and professional guidance the Conservancy seeks to make the Park a successful social space. In their article, "What Makes a Successful Place" Project for Public Spaces prescribes four "place making tools": accessibility, comfort, activities and sociability. Existing and proposed plans for the Brooklyn Bridge Park include these as well as the seven characteristics that William Whyte lists as necessary for small urban social spaces: seating, proximity to the street, sunlight, opportunities for food, water features, trees and tree cover and elements encouraging congregation.
Source: www.brooklynbridgepark.org
The entire plan spans over a large geographic area but smaller parks are the pieces that make up the whole.
Six portions of the waterfront have approved development plans which accounts for 66% of the larger park ground: Main St. Lot, The Cove, Empire-Fulton Ferry Park, Tobacco Warehouse, Pier 1 and Pier 6. Each offers easy street access, natural sunlight and trees.
Six portions of the waterfront have approved development plans which accounts for 66% of the larger park ground: Main St. Lot, The Cove, Empire-Fulton Ferry Park, Tobacco Warehouse, Pier 1 and Pier 6. Each offers easy street access, natural sunlight and trees.
Source: www.brooklynbridgepark.org
Main St. Lot - site of a playground; satisfies activity criterion.
The Cove - located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, the Cove allows direct access to the New York Harbor Estuary, fishing per state health advisories, and seating on rocks that protect the shoreline from further erosion; satisfies water feature, activity and seating criteria.
Empire-Fulton Ferry Park - location of a new pavilion and indoor carousel, both well designed and photogenic; satisfies the activity, comfort and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Tobacco Warehouse - the large and historic roofless warehouse is a photo-opportunistic destination that spurs conversation and congregation; satisfies the comfort and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Pier 1 - offers tiered seating, playgrounds for children and a viewing deck for visitors of multiple ages; satisfies seating, activities for diverse populations and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Pier 6 - offers concessions, a playground and sporting activities; satisfies food, activity and sociable/triangulation criteria.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park provides an edge to western Brooklyn. Residential waterfront towers are proposed as a functionally compatible way to financially self sustain the park. Maximum building height is currently proposed with the option for reduction depending on market feasibility and whether needed capital can be earned from fewer spaces with higher revenue. Thus the park is mainly meant to be used by the upper income individuals who will be able to afford residential space. Here form is influenced by finance which is shaping the design of Brooklyn's edge.
Empire-Fulton Ferry Park - location of a new pavilion and indoor carousel, both well designed and photogenic; satisfies the activity, comfort and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Tobacco Warehouse - the large and historic roofless warehouse is a photo-opportunistic destination that spurs conversation and congregation; satisfies the comfort and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Pier 1 - offers tiered seating, playgrounds for children and a viewing deck for visitors of multiple ages; satisfies seating, activities for diverse populations and sociability/triangulation criteria.
Pier 6 - offers concessions, a playground and sporting activities; satisfies food, activity and sociable/triangulation criteria.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park provides an edge to western Brooklyn. Residential waterfront towers are proposed as a functionally compatible way to financially self sustain the park. Maximum building height is currently proposed with the option for reduction depending on market feasibility and whether needed capital can be earned from fewer spaces with higher revenue. Thus the park is mainly meant to be used by the upper income individuals who will be able to afford residential space. Here form is influenced by finance which is shaping the design of Brooklyn's edge.
