DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A plan to revamp parks, plazas and walkways from Brooklyn Borough Hall to the waterfront has been unveiled.
After two years of planning, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership has released the Community Vision Plan for the Brooklyn Strand project, which includes new renderings of how the proposals will look.
It show updates to the project based on input from residents, community stakeholders, elected officials, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Parks Department and the Department of Transportation.
The plan, designed by WXY Architecture + Urban Design, would revamp Columbus Park, Tillary Parks, the Brooklyn War Memorial, the archway under the Brooklyn Bridge, Bridge Parks 1, 2 and 3, Trinity Park, Commodore Barry Park and the Park Avenue crossing.
Under the proposal, Columbus Park would see new stepped seating, a raised lawn, shortened pedestrian crossings at Adams and Joralemon Streets and the removal of fences that currently close off part of the park.
Parks on Tillary Street would be opened up to create better pedestrian connections between the Korean War Veterans Plaza and Whitman and Cadman Plaza parks. Cadman Plaza would also get a new concession stand near Cadman Plaza West and Tillary Street.
The Brooklyn War Memorial would get a new Visitors Center and see some re-landscaping.
The space under and around the Brooklyn Bridge would get improved signage that would make it easier for pedestrians to find their way onto the bridge, as well as better lighting, a concession stand and a painted bike lane.
Anchorage Plaza would see widened sidewalks along Old Fulton street and a new market that would be open to food vendors and various types of exhibits.
There would also be a new elevator and an improved staircase from Anchorage Plaza up to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Bridge Parks 1, 2 and 3 would be connected and would get new green spaces, lighting, seating, a formal playground, picnic areas and event spaces. The adjacent wall under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway would be modified to reduce noise pollution from the thoroughfare.
Trinity Park would also see better lighting and improved pedestrian walkways, plus new spaces for events, picnics and barbecues.
Commodore Barry Park, which has been fighting for renovations to its sports field for years, would get new stadium lighting and field improvements.
New lighting and an event space would be added to the area under the BQE, next to Commodore Barry and new crosswalks, benches and street lights would be added to Park Avenue, between Navy Street and Grand Avenue.
Tillary Street would get a dedicated bike lane, widened sidewalks, new street lighting and new plaza space with community seating areas.
Cadman Plaza Park would be lifted to meet a new promenade access bridge.
And a new public art project by Danish artists’ group SUPERFLEX has been proposed for several Strand sites. Preliminary sketches show a new piece of art called “The Brooklyn Volcano,” which would erupt into orange and black paths for pedestrians, connecting new areas within the Strand.
Mayor Bill de Blasio first announced the proposal for the "Brooklyn Strand" in 2014 as a way to connect the area's various public parks, plazas and walkways and create more public space.
The Brooklyn Strand will make it easier for pedestrians to walk from Cadman Plaza and the courthouses down to Brooklyn Bridge Park, the mayor’s office has said.
The project still needs to be reviewed by city agencies and community groups for final approval.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has already allocated $1 million toward the re-opening of the War Memorial, and another $500,000 to transforming park space between Borough Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
To see the full plan, click here.
