DUMBO — The Archway, a large space under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO, just got a lot more lunch-friendly.
The DUMBO Improvement District recently added 10 new picnic tables to the stoned archway space. And during lunchtime, those tables are already filling up fast.
On a Friday afternoon The Archway was full of mothers with strollers, employees from nearby businesses on a lunch break and tourists who stopped to rest their feet as the Q Train rumbles overhead.
Some people brought their computers to the tables to work outdoors.
Bill Brent sat in The Archway with is laptop open on the table in front of him.
“Before the picnic tables we would work sitting up against the stone walls,” he said. “This is much better.”
Up until four years ago, The Department of Transportation used The Archway as a storage space.
“It was once basically full of trash,” said Alexandria Sica, Executive Director of the DUMBO Improvement District. “Now it is becoming a wonderful community gathering place.”
The acquisition of picnic tables has been in the works for a while and were a part of the organization’s plan to attract more people to the space.
The Archway has also played host to several events including the Brooklyn Flea, a World Cup viewing and the New York Photo Festival.
