by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy on Apr 23, 2018
Over 500 FREE Activities in the Park Over Four Month Programming Season
BROOKLYN, April 23, 2018 — Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (Conservancy) and Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) announce the full lineup of events and activities for the 2018 spring and summer season. Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of free cultural, recreational, and educational events.
The four-month season of programming stretching from May to August begins with Lift Off: A Waterfront Kite Festival on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Visitors of all ages can watch their kites soar above the Manhattan skyline from Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. In addition to kite flying, the family-friendly event will also host a number of partners whose activities emphasize S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) concepts — using wind tunnels, robotic air propellers, and experiments to explore the science of flight.
In addition to programming and events, Brooklyn Bridge Park will be opening five new acres of parkland at Pier 3. The new park space will include a central lawn, areas for programming, and a labyrinth garden. Pier 3 will also feature a cedar grove with versatile seating for picnics, play, and relaxation.
CULTURE
GlassBarge, from the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG), will offer free public glassmaking demonstrations at each scheduled stop during its four-month tour, launching on May 17 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Glassbarge commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company—now known as Corning Incorporated—relocating to Corning via the New York Waterways by canal barge. In celebration of this journey, CMoG is recreating the voyage with GlassBarge—a 30’ x 88’ canal barge which will host daily free glassblowing demonstrations for the public from the deck of the barge.
Movies With A View, the 8-week film series with sweeping views of the city skyline, returns for its 19th year. The theme for this year is “She Directs!” and will highlight the work of female directors across genres. Books Beneath the Bridge, the six-week literary program curated by independent bookstores based in Brooklyn will host authors for readings and Q&A sessions starting July 9, and continuing every Monday through August 13.
For the seventh consecutive year, The FENCE returns to BBP in June. United Photo Industries, in partnership with Photo District News, will display the work of talented photographers from around the world in sections throughout the Park.
Other cultural programming this summer includes the Hindu Lamp Ceremony, dance performances by Gibney, and All The Park’s a Stage, where New York Classical Theatre will stage Romeo & Juliet. A new concert series, Brooklyn Americana Music Festival: Unplugged, will showcase intimate acoustic sets performed by musical duos throughout June.
RECREATION
For recreational programming, a new program added to the summer lineup is tennis clinics with USTA Eastern. Children ages 5-12 will test their skills and master the basics through fun drills and activities in Squibb Park.
The popular walk-up kayaking program, which hosted over 5,500 people in 2017, will be expanded from two days a week to three days a week this summer. Now families can glide along the East River every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday with Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse.
Dodge YMCA instructors will teach a number of free outdoor fitness classes, such as Zumba, Hip Hop Dance Aerobics, Total Body Conditioning, and Retro Dance; while basketball clinics, Double Dutch, swimming lessons, and an adult soccer league round out the Conservancy’s recreational offerings this summer.
EDUCATION
The Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center will host Open Hours four days a week, where visitors can learn about the park’s history and ecology through animal interaction, crafts, and rotating exhibits. In addition to Open Hours, the Center will also act as the home base for other environmental education programs including seining, and a variety of school programs that serve over 10,000 students every year.
Working with the JOIDES Resolution, a research vessel that drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples, the Conservancy will be bringing In Search of Earth’s Secrets: A Pop-Up Science Encounter to the park, where visitors can learn about the Earth’s core through interactive and immersive activities.
Throughout the season, the volunteer Green Team will offer nature enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about gardening and enjoy the outdoors every Saturday, and regular Coastal Cleanups will allow visitors to help keep the park’s shorelines clean and beautiful. Towards the end of the summer, applications will open for Teens Interested in and Dedicated to Environmental Sciences (TIDES), a volunteer program designed for teenagers to complete community service hours.
BBP will also be welcoming back concessionaires for another successful summer season: Ample Hills, Fornino, Lizzmonade, Luke’s Lobster, and Pilot all return to the Park this season. In Empire Stores, in addition to its restaurants and shops, is the DUMBO outpost of the Brooklyn Historical Society. The exhibit Waterfront opened in January and illustrates Brooklyn’s storied past along the coastline. Brooklyn’s vibrant history of workers, families, communities, and industries are brought to life in this multimedia display designed for all ages. Visit DUMBO’s only history museum to take a step back in time and discover the rich history of the Brooklyn waterfront.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the park for another outstanding season. Pier 3, our final pier, opens this summer providing even more parkland and amenities for all to enjoy and bringing the Park to 90% completion,” said Eric Landau, President, Brooklyn Bridge Park. “Thanks to the work of the Conservancy and our other great programming partners, Brooklyn Bridge Park continues to be the premier summer destination for all.”
“From tennis clinics to Movies With A View, from kayaking to concerts, we’re keeping the waterfront vibrant by expanding our roster to include new programs, and by bringing back crowd favorites year after year,” said Nancy Webster, Executive Director of the Conservancy. “We have a great lineup this summer, and I’m excited to kick it all off at Lift Off: A Waterfront Kite Festival next week.”
In 2017, Brooklyn Bridge Park saw close to 5 million visitors between Memorial Day and Labor Day.