The Plan
Nine Acres of Joy, Discovery and Wonder
The nine acres from Park Row to South Street will comprise six distinct outdoor areas, providing a diversity of experiences responding to the specific character of each space.
We envision The Vaults inside the Bridge to be converted to public use with a Community Hub, a New York Public Library and a Brooklyn Bridge Museum housing a collection of documents and artifacts from the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a connected Maker Space to harness that inspiration.
Project Stages and Milestones
stage one - opened May 2023!
After two years of advocacy, the first acre of Gotham Park’s nine-acre site was reopened for public use in a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 24. Speakers included Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Gotham Park’s own Rosa Chang and Steve Rodriguez.
Dubbed "The Arches" by City Hall, the reopened space comprises 50% of the Small Banks and athletic courts for basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard and handball.
We are now activating our new public space with free recreational programming, arts, cultural and athletic events, empowering internships, art installations, beautification efforts and more!
Stage Two - Commencing 2024
Once bridge work is completed in 2024, an additional five acres of outdoor space will be reopened to the public. Milestones will include:
- Reclaiming the remaining half of the Small Banks and the Big Banks to reintroduce the area as a skating mecca and as a playground for all interests, ages and abilities;
- On the south side of the bridge, establishing the Arches and Rose Park as peaceful green space inspired by biophilic design principles and a place for vendors and markets;
- Supporting climate resilience throughout the space with permeable pavers, renewable energy, permaculture design and more;
- Designing the Arches to host performances, arts and culture events, markets, a climbing wall and other attractions; and
- Finally, redeveloping the Vaults for public use, including a library, community
Stage 3 - Commencing 2030
Once Stage Two work is complete, we will look to expand to South Street. Milestones will include:
- Creating a flexible open space with a weekday schoolyard and film screenings beneath the bridge
- Hosting a farmers’, arts & crafts, and book market that connects communities on both sides of the Bridge;
- Developing more sustainable and green open space with plantings that support not only our native birds and pollinators, but also the well-being of our communities; and
- Building on climate resilience efforts through bioswales, healthy soils, native trees and plants and flood-friendly hardscaping and landscaping.
