We’ve rounded up the biggest stories of 2025 for Brooklyn families. Cell phones were banned in public schools, congestion pricing tolled drivers entering Manhattan, real estate development boomed in Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, and Williamsburg, and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal’s redevelopment plan to transform the waterfront was approved. Plus, Brooklyn welcomed a wave of new openings, from indoor play spaces like DUMBO’s Space Club to family-friendly restaurants such as Ziggy’s Roman Café, along with an expansion of discount supermarket chains including Lidl and Aldi. Basketball also had a big year in Brooklyn, with new youth facilities opening popping up across the borough. Read on for more on the biggest news stories of the year!
Cell phones banned in NYC public schools
A state law was implement at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year to ban cellphones in New York City public schools. Smartphones and other personal internet-enabled devices like smartwatches can no longer be used on school grounds during the school day. To implement the policy, Governor Hochul assigned $13.5 million for school districts to purchase equipment to store cellphones. The city also allocated $25 million. Each school has implemented its own policy regarding cell phones. Read more here.
Congestion pricing charges drivers $9 to enter Manhattan
After the plan had been paused indefinitely, Governor Kathy Hochul revived New York City’s congestion pricing program amid threats from Donald Trump to derail it. The plan launched with a $9 base toll for passenger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, with increases scheduled over the next six years—rising to $12 in 2028 and reaching $15 by 2031. Since tolls began on January 5, 2025, congestion pricing has reduced traffic, sped up buses, improved air quality, lowered crash rates, boosted MTA ridership, and generated funding for transit upgrades. Tolls apply to vehicles entering Manhattan via the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges, as well as all four tunnels. Read more here!
Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment plan approved
After months of delays, a vision plan was approved for the redevelopment Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the 122-acre waterfront site from Pier 7 at Atlantic Avenue to Pier 12 in Red Hook. The $3.5 billion proposal envisions a modernized port alongside a mixed-use development with housing, parks, public spaces, a hotel, a new Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and more. The next step will be the creation of a General Project Plan (GPP)—a process that includes environmental review and changing the land use for the site. Construction will not begin for several years. The plan continues to face opposition by locals who believe it will bring private development and luxury housing to Red Hook’s working waterfront. There are also concerns of creating thousands of new housing units in a flood-prone area without subway access, and whether the neighborhood can handle the growth.
German discount supermarkets expand in Brooklyn
The German supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have been rapidly expanding in Brooklyn, with Aldi’s arrival in Downtown Brooklyn and Lidl also opening in Downtown Brooklyn, plus in Park Slope, and soon, in Williamsburg. Both discount stores offer very low prices and are stocked with everything from produce to meats, cheeses, baked goods, home goods, and more. Learn more about Aldi, Lidl, and more supermarkets coming to Brooklyn here.
Indoor play spaces that opened in 2025
Brooklyn welcomed several unique indoor playgrounds in DUMBO, Clinton Hill, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge & beyond this year, offering everything from jungle gyms and trampolines to arcades, a Ninja warrior course, and even a Scandinavian café for parents and caregivers where they can supervise children playing. Here’s our top new spots of 2025:
- Space Club | DUMBO | A massive 28,000-square-foot indoor playspace with a multi-level jungle gym, with slides, a bead pool filled with seven million beads, trampolines, a disco room, a bedazzling studio, and creative areas for Lego and MagnaTile building. They offer memberships, classes, week-longcamps, and birthday parties. Open 365 days per year, 8am–7pm. Learn more here!
- Ferox Ninja Playground | DUMBO | A 6,000-square-foot indoor ninja gym for ages 2–12 with trampolines, parkour, zipline, and obstacle courses. They offer open play, camps, birthday parties, and after-school classes, with expanded evening hours starting January 2026. Learn more here!
- House of Wonder | Clinton Hill | A Scandinavian-inspired family café with open play in a calm, parent-friendly space. Best for ages 0–6. Open daily, 9am–6pm, with hourly drop-in and memberships available.
- Max Funland | Sunset Park | Max Funland has two locations in Sunset Park. Their newer play space at 3901 8th Avenue has an arcade a trampolines, plus claw machines and VR devices. There is also a 6D dynamic theatre. Great for ages 3+.
- Launch Family Entertainment | Bay Ridge | A family fun center with trampolines, an indoor playground that includes a toddler area, multiple slides, arcade games, and food for purchase.
- Catch Air | Coney Island | A colorful indoor play center with a three-story soft play structure and interactive toys, and much more.
- Wonderland Playhouse | Sheepshead Bay | A new indoor play space for ages 0–10 with ball pits, zipline, dress-up play, and building tables.
Best drop-in indoor fun in Brooklyn by neighborhood here.
Exciting restaurant openings of 2025
This year brought a tremendous wave of restaurants openings in Brooklyn, with new cocktail bars, causal and fine dining restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and all-day cafes. Below are just some of our top picks this year:
- ABC Kitchens | DUMBO | Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has opened his first Brooklyn restaurant inside Empire Stores, blending ABC Kitchen, ABC Cocina, abcV favorites.The 125-seat restaurant takes over the former Sugarcane space, featuring landmarked stone walls built from Brooklyn Bridge remnants, with a Brooklyn Bridge Park patio.
- Ziggy’s Roman Café | DUMBO | This family-friendly Roman pizzeria from the team behind Employees Only features a mezzanine play area stocked with sensory toys for kids. The menu highlights Roman-style pizzas, classic pastas, and cocktails in a two-level space on Main Street.
- Concrete Shoals | Brooklyn Bridge Park | This new floating dock bar by nearby Fini (also a newcomer this year) is located near Pier 5 in the park’s marina, offering wine, beer, and light bites with sweeping East River views.
- Ferrane Bakery | Brooklyn Heights | This new Swedish bakery blends Scandinavian pastries with East and North African influences. Expect cardamom buns, princess cake, fresh breads, and East African coffee in a warm, airy space.
- Sal Tang’s | Carroll Gardens | From the teams behind Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony’s, and Chinatown’s Nom Was comes this new Chinese spot serving dim sum and classic Chinese-American dishes.
- Mister Cheeks | Carroll Gardens | This family-friendly all-day café serves coffee, pastries, rotisserie chicken, sandwiches, and house-made soft serve. Grab-and-go options and a takeout window make it especially kid-friendly.
- Radio Bakery | Prospect Heights | The cult-favorite Greenpoint bakery expanded to Prospect Heights with its second location this year. Expect fan favorites like focaccia and pretzel bear claws, plus location-exclusive pastries.
- Gertie | Prospect Heights | Gertie reopened this fall with a counter-style deli featuring a customizable latke bar and classic Jewish comfort foods. Cocktails, house sodas, and creative coffee drinks round out the menu.
- Folk | Park Slope | From the team behind Lore, this cozy cocktail bar serves inventive drinks and small plates. The menu includes Indian-inspired dishes like crab risotto, masala latkes, and shareable snacks.
- Le Fleur Rouge | Park Slope | This French-Chinese fusion restaurant channels 1930s Shanghai and Paris with a jazz-filled vibe. Expect bold fusion dishes, cocktails, and live jazz midweek.
- Pitt’s | Red Hook | From the Agi’s Counter team, Pitt’s is a Southern-inspired bistro in the former Fort Defiance space. The menu pairs comfort-driven dishes with local beer, whiskey, and cocktails.
- I Cavallini | Williamsburg | The Four Horsemen team’s long-awaited Italian restaurant serves Tuscan fare, including standout handmade pastas. The 70-seat space includes a backyard and a strong wine program.
Basketball had major moment in Brooklyn this year
Basketball had a major moment this year, with a flurry of youth training centers opening across Brooklyn. Basketball fandom is on the rise across the borough following the NY Liberty’s 2024 championship. Read more about the team’s 2025 season here!
- Brooklyn Basketball Training Center | Downtown Brooklyn | Opened in September 2025, this 18,600-sq-ft, state-of-the-art youth facility is operated by the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty across from Barclays Center. It offers after-school and weekend training, camps, all-girls programming, two full courts, a shooting lab, and in-house coaching.
- The Program NYC | Greenpoint | Opened in September 2025, this 12,500-sq-ft basketball training facility features regulation courts, strength and turf areas, recovery and film rooms. It offers elite coaching and up to three weekly training sessions for grades 1–12, including strength, agility, conditioning, and quarterly coach reports.
- Hoops Klub | Fort Greene | Hoops Klub opened a new indoor basketball hub for children in Fort Greene near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The facility run by Hoops Academy offers programs for ages 4 to 14 including skill building lessons, camps, birthday parties, clinics and more.
- Brooklyn Basketball Academy | Vinegar Hill | Brooklyn Basketball Academy expanded to Vinegar Hill with a new location at 306 Water Street featuring a hardwood court and adjustable hoops. The space hosts skills training for grades 2–9 and is also available for hourly, half-day, or full-day rentals.
Real estate boom: Downtown Brooklyn’s housing record, Gowanus development on the rise, and Williamsburg Wharf transforms the waterfront
Downtown Brooklyn saw a major housing boom in the first half of 2025, completing a record 3,700 apartments—1,048 of them affordable—surpassing the previous high set in 2022. Another 1,183 units are expected by year’s end, led by large developments like the Everly and the Rocklyn.
Along the Gowanus Canal, new luxury rentals and major projects are transforming the neighborhood, including the upcoming Life Time complex at Gowanus Wharf, which will combine fitness, wellness, and co-working.
On the South Williamsburg waterfront, the 3.75-acre Williamsburg Wharf development is underway, with phase one delivering more than 600 residential units, new retail, and a public esplanade, and additional towers planned for a future phase.
For all the latest real estate news, click here!
Brooklyn Bridge Parents launches digital platform for family services, new calendar and a record number of free family events
Brooklyn Bridge Parents hosted 49 family events in 2025, a record number! Thank you to our team of event managers, playworkers and party entertainers for their love for kids (and grown-ups), dedication, determination and creativity! For 2026, we have bigger than ever plans to bring families together in Brooklyn and will kick off the year in January with Tweentopia and Toddlertopia! We cannot wait to see you all again in 2026 to PLAY, LEARN and MAKE FRIENDS!
Have you checked out CONNECT – where families find what matters? Whether you are looking for a preschool, day camp, face painter, speech therapist, writing tutor, camp, meal delivery service, child therapist or piano teacher, CONNECT is the one-stop solution for parents, easy to navigate and curated!
Our new Events Calendar is here featuring convenient filters by category, location, ages, dates and more to make your Brooklyn social life as fun and meaningful as possible.
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Updated: December 24, 2025.
