NYC Department of Parks has presented 7 proposals they got from entities for the temporary and seasonal implementation of programming, amenities, events, and development for the Anchorage Plaza site between DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn. The site has been closed to the public for over 10 years and is reopening early 2024 when the Department of Transportation will leave the site. The whole lot will be repaved, it will not be leveled everywhere with two points of access along Old Fulton Street and along Washington Street for people to come in. The proposals range from pickleball fields, cafes, dog run, farmers market, art space, micro mobility parking, amphitheater to adventure playground. Some of the proposals are fully fee-based but most are mixed cost with free and fee-based options.
- Proposal 1: Art space, rotating art gallery with public seating, sculpture garden, farmer’s market, amphitheater for live performances, cafe or other revenue generating elements
- Proposal 2 & 3: Play space, combination of pickleball and paddle ball, cafe, restaurant, dog run
- Proposal 4: Cafe, dog part, open air art gallery, play space, micro mobility parking for scooters and bikes
- Proposal 5: Flower and garden center, farmers market, pumpkin patch, hay maze, flea market etc rotating
- Proposal 6: Space for concerts, theater, play space, mini golf course, holiday markets etc
- Proposal 7: Adventure playground for ages 6-12, school field trip site, after school programs, summer camp with free sessions on weekends
Whether the site will be open to the public day-to-day is unclear currently. The DOT will still need access from time to time to the site for ongoing repairs and BQE related issues so activations will most likely not be year-round. These parcels are part of the BQE transformation project hence the planned temporary usage. The Department of Parks is therefore planning for the next 5 years and not long-term. They are hoping for this project to be implemented by spring/summer 2024.
