New Entryway Enhances Accessibility and Highlights Park’s Continued Growth
BROOKLYN, NY – Brooklyn Bridge Park celebrated its 15th anniversary with the grand unveiling of the new Pier 1 Pavilion and Entryway, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and community-driven development. The event brought together local leaders, elected officials, and community members to commemorate the park’s transformation from an industrial waterfront into a world-class public space.
“As we celebrate our 15th Anniversary, today marks an exciting moment in the transformation of this space from an abandoned area to one of New York City’s most beloved public parks,” said Eric Landau, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “With the opening of the new Pier 1 Pavilion and Entryway, we have created a vibrant destination in the Park, where visitors can meet, gather, and enjoy this incredible public space.”
The pavilion is situated within a grove of honey locust and ginkgo trees atop a small knoll, accessible by gently sloping paths and wide stairways. From this elevated vantage point, visitors enjoy expansive views of the East River, the Manhattan skyline, and deep into Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Composed of three stone structures, the pavilion seamlessly opens to the park, with two-tone pavers enhancing the natural flow around the space. Designed as an inviting place of calm amid city life, the pavilion serves as both an accessible meeting space and a welcoming gateway to Pier 1.
Photovoltaic shingles covering the pavilion’s roof are expected to generate enough energy to achieve net-zero status and fully power Pier 1. The roof’s underside features vibrant yellow-green porcelain penny tiles, mirroring the seasonal colors of nearby trees. An oculus above the central gathering space connects visitors with the open sky, while the cantilevered offers shelter.
The pavilion also includes thoughtfully designed public restrooms, featuring the park’s first private family and gender-neutral facilities, underscoring Brooklyn Bridge Park’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
The event also highlighted the park’s newest partner, Breads Bakery. The new cafe adds to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s vibrant culinary landscape with its acclaimed baked goods and cafe offerings. Known for its artisanal pastries and famous babka, Breads Bakery emphasizes fresh ingredients, traditional baking methods, and innovative flavors. Visitors can enjoy a variety of sweet and savory items, from freshly baked breads and pastries to sandwiches and salads.
Since its inception, Brooklyn Bridge Park has redefined urban waterfront access, welcoming millions of visitors annually. Its innovative funding model, commitment to sustainability, and world-class programming have made it a national model for public space transformation. The Pier 1 Entryway refreshes the park’s main entryway and marks another milestone in its continued growth.
“Brooklyn Bridge Park shows what happens when we dream big for our public spaces, with the public and private sectors coming together to transform the vestiges of our city’s industrial past into a community treasure that fits all needs,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “A beautiful gateway to the park and a symbol of our environmental commitments in equal measure, the new Pier 1 Entryway is the kind of forward-thinking public investment that makes New York City special.”
“I’m thrilled to see the new Pier 1 entryway officially open once again at Brooklyn Bridge Park after nearly a year and a half of construction,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This newly improved space will make it easier than ever for both New Yorkers and visitors to fully experience the vibrant community the park has to offer. For the past 15 years, Brooklyn Bridge Park has been an essential part of our city’s identity, and this investment is a critical step toward enhancing the park’s accessibility and sustainability for years to come.”
“For 15 years, millions upon millions of visitors have entered Brooklyn Bridge Park in search of an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of city life. From playgrounds to reading nooks and athletic fields, there’s something for everyone at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The new Pier 1 Entryway is yet another example of what makes Brooklyn Bridge Park, and our borough, so great: always changing, always growing, and always improving,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
“I’m elated to celebrate the beautiful new Pier 1 Entryway to welcome visitors to our world class waterfront park.” said Council Member Lincoln Restler “The new Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 Entryway is befitting of our beloved park, includes Breads Bakery’s first Brooklyn outpost, and adds some much needed bathrooms.”
“Brooklyn Bridge Park is a crown jewel of our city’s park system, one that’s cherished by locals and visitors seeking green space, a game of pickup basketball, a place to exercise, or a spot to simply enjoy a breath of fresh air,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “This new entryway is a fitting front door to one of Brooklyn’s best parks, and a new opportunity to welcome visitors from around the block and around the world. I’m grateful to Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation for their tireless work to make this public space so welcoming and accessible, and look forward to enjoying it with my own family for years to come.”
“Today marks a special occasion, as the iconic Brooklyn Bridge Park gains a new Entryway that improves park access and welcomes visitors from near and far. I applaud the park’s continued investment in accessibility, the thoughtful design of the new Entryway, and additional new amenities. Congratulations to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation on 15 years of being a good steward of this land so New Yorkers can enjoy the outdoors and waterfront access in a world-class park,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.
Paul Seck, Chief Operating Officer of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc., said, “The new pavilion and plaza will redefine how many of the visitors enter the park and encounter the landscape, now grounded by a comfortable civic landmark and a beautiful meeting place.”
Tod Williams, Partner at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, said: “It is a front porch to Brooklyn and the world. A small, but powerful marker of the entrance to the Park and a synthesis of landscape and architecture.”
Billie Tsien, Partner at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, said: “This new pavilion opens its arms to all. And offers one of the most important civic amenities: beautiful public bathrooms!”
About Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the largest and most significant public projects to be built in New York City in a generation, has transformed a once dilapidated industrial waterfront into a vibrant and thriving 85-acre civic landscape. Brooklyn Bridge Park is designed to be both environmentally and financially sustainable, a critical element of the park’s long-term sustainability. Operated as a not-for-profit controlled by the City of New York, Brooklyn Bridge Park develops, capitally improves, and maintains the Park and is responsible for all day-to-day operations.
About Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
Founded in 1982, MVVA has master planned and designed public parks of all sizes (from 2 acres to over 1000 acres), gardens, and campuses for world-class institutions. Regardless of their size or location, the firm’s built landscapes exemplify outstanding environmental performance, financial resourcefulness, and technical innovation. Our projects are defined by the qualities of their sites and by the aspirations of people who will use them. Our staff works from offices in Brooklyn, Cambridge, Denver, and Los Angeles. As researchers, designers, and builders, we approach every project as an opportunity to expand the creative potential of our field. Our work has received many awards for design excellence. We are exceptionally proud that Brooklyn Bridge Park was awarded the Rosa Barba International Landscape Architecture Prize in 2021. MVVA was also selected as the Firm of the Year by the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2016.
About Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners is a New York based studio established in 1986
by founding partners Tod Williams & Billie Tsien. Their practice is committed to reflecting the values of non-profit, cultural and academic institutions toward an architecture of enduring vision. A sense of rootedness, light, texture, detail, and most of all, experience, are at the heart of what they design. Some of their notable public projects include the renovation of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago. Over the past three decades, their dedication to this work has been recognized by numerous national and international citations, and in 2013 they were awarded the Architecture Firm Award by the American Institute of Architects. The studio is committed to creating a better world through architecture.
