Living in DUMBO – a neighborhood guide for families

DUMBO with its 6,000 residents is known for stunning views of the bridges and Manhattan as well as its proximity to Brooklyn Bridge Park and the city. It has become an exclusive haven for families with uncountable kid-friendly amenities in Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO itself.

Kid-friendly institutions:

• Pirate ship playground in the Main Street section of Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Education Center
• Creatively Wild Arts Studio for the arts,
• Two Kids and A Dog is a unique kids store at the Pearl Street Triangle featuring clothes for 0 to 8 years, toys, shoes and gifts

Kid-friendly restaurants:

• Juliana’s Pizzeria on Old Fulton Street
• Time Out Market with 20 food vendors in the Empire Stores
• Shake Shack on Old Fulton Street
• Westville on Washington Street
• Insider tip: Sugarcane has delicious kids Sushi with one salmon roll, 4 nigiris and a side of fries or fruits for $14

What you should not miss in DUMBO:

• Sunday brunch with live music at Superfine restaurant
• A visit to Brooklyn Historical Society to watch the stunning kid-friendly film about the history of the Brooklyn water front
• A pizza date at one of the delicious pizzerias in DUMBO including Juliana’s at Time Out Market and on Old Fulton Street, Love & Dough at the Pearl Street Triangle and Grimaldi’s on Old Fulton Street
• Coffee at DUMBO’s iconic Brooklyn Roasting Company on Jay Street
• Sweet treats at One Girl Cookies cafe on Main Street
• $2 rides on the beautiful horses at Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Schools in DUMBO:

• Public schools: District 13 STEM school PS 307 in Vinegar Hill is DUMBO’s zoned elementary school
• Preschools: DUMBO Gan and NY Preschool (NY Kids Club)
• Daycares: Imagine and Bright Horizons

Affording DUMBO:

• The average two bedroom rent per month was $6,180 in 2019
• The median condo sale was $1.5M in 2019

What to look forward to in DUMBO:

• A new public library is opening in the fall of 2020 featuring kids area, teens area and adult area, meeting room and more
• A new park is coming to DUMBO in 2021 featuring playground, adult fitness area and more

Downsides of DUMBO:

• The subway on the Manhattan Bridge and the BQE make it a loud place
• DUMBO gets overflowed by tourists from May to October
• The F train York Street Station with only one exit is packed and a safety issue

This guide has been contributed by Katharina Goetz, founder of Brooklyn Bridge Parents, DUMBO resident since 2012 and mom of two children.