In 2014 Mayor de Blasio announced an initiative to transform the Brooklyn Strand, currently a series of disconnected parks, plazas and greenways, into a grand promenade and gateway to Brooklyn. Over the past two years, residents, business leaders, elected officials, numerous City agencies and community groups – including Brooklyn Bridge Park among others, worked together to develop the Brooklyn Strand Community Vision Plan.
Led by WXY Architecture + Urban Design, this effort has resulted in recommendations aimed at transforming the quality of public spaces in order to better connect Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and surrounding neighborhoods while improving waterfront access.
The following recommendations have been handed over to the City, now charged with determining which, if not all, of these recommendations can and will be set into motion to become a reality.
The recommendations include:
- A new “Gateway to Brooklyn” off the Brooklyn Bridge
- Reopening of the long-closed Brooklyn War Memorial to the public
- Creation of a market at Anchorage Plaza
- Improvements to Commodore Barry Park
- Improved connections across surrounding neighborhoods by examining opportunities to realign portions of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway ramps
- Transformations of and better pedestrian connections between the existing series of parks, plazas and open spaces that include widening sidewalks enhancing bike networks among others
- Installation of innovative public art throughout the Brooklyn Strand
While the Brooklyn Strand is still in a stage of infancy, it demonstrates the incredible opportunity to transform this space into the world-class gateway for Brooklyn. Stay tuned!
