Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Gotham Park envisions unlocking the potential of the forgotten spaces under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, New York, creating a new type of urban community park that nurtures connection, curiosity, wonder, and resilience.
The Bridge is a sleeping giant - a National Monument recognized the world over – yet lands in a fenced-off parking lot and a forbidding security zone. After 13+ years of disuse, Gotham Park is creating a new, community-driven 9-acre public space at the crossroads of five great Manhattan neighborhoods - Chinatown, the South Street Seaport, Two Bridges, Little Italy and the Financial District. We are transforming this space into a neighborhood nexus connecting and strengthening our residents, businesses and communities with healthy and safe open space and environmentally resilient design.
Embodying the radically inclusive spirit of the historic skateboarding mecca “the Brooklyn Banks,” we are restoring the Banks while expanding public space and access to create a variety of flexible play spaces that inspire, engage and delight all ages, interests and abilities. Woven together from the vaults, the arches and the land beneath one of New York City’s most visited landmarks, we are building a park for our communities, by our communities - a legacy project worthy of the majestic Bridge that rises above it.
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.
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!
Once bridge work is completed in 2024, an additional five acres of outdoor space will be reopened to the public. Milestones will include:
Once Stage Two work is underway, we will look to expand to South Street. Milestones will include:
Access our full vision in our Social and Economic Impact Analysis by HR&A Advisors.
Gotham Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the principles of New York public-private partnership public spaces. We need your financial help to make our collective vision a reality.