Media Coverage Susan De Vries, Brownstoner on Sep 6, 2017
Peaceful lounging space in Brooklyn Bridge Park just increased with the unveiling on Thursday of the Pier 5 Uplands, bringing 3.4 more acres of public space to the park.
The green space, located just east of the Picnic Peninsula, is designed to be a restful oasis — with lawns for lounging, views to ogle, meandering walkways to stroll and scattered seating areas on which to perch. With its opening, the park inches ever closer to completion.
“With the opening of the Pier 5 Uplands today we can now celebrate that 80 percent of the park is complete and open to the public,” said Brooklyn Bridge Park President Eric Landau at the opening ceremony.
Despite the smattering of rain, there were still some park-goers already wandering the paths curving along the grass-covered berm that is a major feature of the new space. Stretching from one end of the Uplands to the other, the 35 foot-long sound dampening berm is designed to counter noise from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
The project, like the rest of Brooklyn Bridge Park, was designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. The wooden benches and salvaged granite seen elsewhere in the park are continued in the Uplands.
Noting the impact of the park on the borough, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams commented during the ceremony that “more than a tree grows in Brooklyn, a great park has grown in Brooklyn and we are part of it.”
While the pathways and lawns are open, the full Uplands area is not yet complete. It was announced that the new boathouse — which will provide programming space and public restrooms — will open in the fall.
Work on the building has progressed since May, with cladding now up on a large percentage of the structure.
The new maintenance and operations facility, located at the southern end of the Uplands, is also slated to be completed later this year.
The Pier 5 Uplands is not the only new green space that has been under construction in Brooklyn Bridge Park — work started on Pier 3 in October. Slated to open in summer 2018, the completed Pier 3 will bring an additional 4.6 acres to the park.