DUMBO — The Jehovah’s Witnesses will give the city $5.5 million to revamp a DUMBO park — more than a decade after pledging to do so.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York — which is in the process of moving out of the neighborhood — will fund the renovations at Bridge Park 2 and its adjoining basketball courts on York Street, the organization announced last week.
The Witnesses promised to fix up the park in 2004 as part of a rezoning deal, but the organization said renovations were delayed after city officials requested more time to review the purpose of the park, according to a statement released by the religious organization.
Last month, local politicians drafted a letter demanding Watchtower make good on its pledge to renovate the park, according to Brownstoner.
“It is unacceptable that since the Watchtower committed to work with the Parks Department, over 11 years have passed, the site has seen no improvements and remains a piece of barren asphalt,” the letter reads.
Officials from the Witnesses said the money is “well over” what the organization would have spent to complete the work in 2004, but it’s set aside this amount to cover costs estimated by city officials.
“Watchtower has high regard for the commitment made back in 2004 and is convinced that a new park will add to the enjoyment of the local community,” the organization said in a statement.
The renewed pledge for the park’s renovation comes at the heels of the organization’s announcement that it would be moving its headquarters out of DUMBO to upstate Warwick.
The Witnesses said last month that they would be selling their iconic world headquarters at 25-30 Columbia Heights, along with properties at 24 Columbia Heights, a 10-story residential building, and 85 Jay St., which is now being used as a parking lot.
