192-817: Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre (34 ha) park on the Brooklyn side of the East River in New York City . Designed by landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates , the park is located on a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) plot of land from Atlantic Avenue in the south, under the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and past the Brooklyn Bridge , to Jay Street north of the Manhattan Bridge . From north to south,
384-496: A Pakistani enclave. Brooklyn's most populous racial group, white, declined from 97.2% in 1930 to 46.9% by 1990. The borough attracts people previously living in other cities in the United States. Of these, most come from Chicago , Detroit , San Francisco , Washington, D.C. , Baltimore , Philadelphia , Boston , Cincinnati , and Seattle . Given New York City's role as a crossroads for immigration from around
576-510: A dog run and expansive lawns that provide views of the Manhattan skyline. The Main Street portion of the park was renovated in 2015. The Main Street renovation included an expanded lawn, an upgraded dog run, improved pedestrian and bicycle circulation, an entry plaza at Washington Street and a rock climbing wall. The project also entailed the construction of John Street Park, which includes
768-567: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ), with partial shielding from the Appalachian Mountains and moderating influences from the Atlantic Ocean . Brooklyn receives plentiful precipitation all year round, with nearly 50 in (1,300 mm) yearly. The area averages 234 days with at least some sunshine annually, and averages 57% of possible sunshine annually, accumulating 2,535 hours of sunshine per annum. Brooklyn lies in
960-531: A 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m) lawn, pathways and a salt marsh. In April 2016, a company called the Cliffs opened DUMBO Boulders, a bouldering area at Main Street. With a capacity of 250 climbers, it was the largest bouldering facility in North America when it opened. The Empire–Fulton Ferry section of the park is 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) of waterfront parkland that is directly adjacent to Main Street to
1152-535: A 14-block area in 1890. On the southwestern waterfront of Kings County, railroads and industrialization spread to Sunset Park (then coterminous with the city's sprawling, sparsely populated Eighth Ward) and adjacent Bay Ridge (hitherto a resort-like subsection of the Town of New Utrecht ). Within a decade, the city had annexed the Town of New Lots in 1886; the Towns of Flatbush , Gravesend and New Utrecht in 1894; and
1344-657: A 25-mile (40 km) radius of the Statue of Liberty. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were no road bridge or tunnel crossings between the two states. The initial tunnel crossings were completed privately by the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad in 1908 and 1909 ("Hudson Tubes"), followed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910 (" North River Tunnels "). Under an independent agency, the Holland Tunnel
1536-553: A busy port city on New York Harbor by the 19th century. On January 1, 1898, after a long political campaign and public-relations battle during the 1890s and despite opposition from Brooklyn residents, Brooklyn was consolidated in and annexed (along with other areas) to form the current five-borough structure of New York City in accordance to the new municipal charter of " Greater New York ". The borough continues to maintain some distinct culture . Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnic enclaves . With Jews forming around
1728-485: A casualty of investigations into the " Bridgegate " scandal. Basil Paterson , father of former Governor David Paterson , served on the board from 1989–95, and again from 2013–14. The current commissioners are: On July 14, 2016, David Samson pleaded guilty to a felony for conspiring to impede an airport project to coerce United Airlines to reinstate a discontinued flight to an airport in South Carolina, near
1920-659: A complete park build out. To ensure the park would be fiscally sustainable throughout the years, the MOU mandated that all park maintenance and operations are required to be economically self-sufficient, financed through revenues from commercial and residential development within the site. The entirety of the first two phases of the park, including the Main Street dog run, both beach portions and adjacent playgrounds were designed in house by NYC Parks landscape architects. In 2004, BBPDC hired Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. ,
2112-548: A heavy-use urban setting." Above all, the park is meant to serve as a vital threshold connecting the city and the East River. "We realized this park wasn't about scenery," Van Valkenburgh said, "The nature of this park is the river." Van Valkenburgh associate Matthew Urbanski said, "We hope people rethink how to use public spaces after using this park." Pier 1 was the first section of parkland, having opened in March 2010. It
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#17327718479922304-458: A hill near the west end of present-day Atlantic Avenue , was reported to have emotionally exclaimed: "What brave men I must this day lose!". The fortified American positions at Brooklyn Heights consequently became untenable and were evacuated a few days later, leaving the British in control of New York Harbor . While Washington's defeat on the battlefield cast early doubts on his ability as
2496-734: A home that he owned. He was appointed by Chris Christie. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey manages and maintains infrastructure critical to the New York/New Jersey region's trade and transportation network—five of the region's airports, the New York/New Jersey seaport, the PATH rail transit system, six tunnels and bridges between New York and New Jersey, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and George Washington Bridge Bus Station in Manhattan and The World Trade Center site. The Port of New York and New Jersey
2688-561: A hotel at Pier 1 was too tall, was dismissed in June 2015. Two other suits to halt the construction of an adjacent condominium complex were dismissed in September 2015 and in June 2016. A fourth lawsuit concerning two residential buildings at Pier 6 resulted in a settlement in May 2015 where the heights of these buildings were reduced. Brooklyn Bridge Park spans 85 acres (34 ha) of
2880-437: A landscape architecture firm, to plan, design, and prepare a master plan for the full development of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The park's master plan, unveiled that December, included landscape features such as hills, open plazas, canals, and marshes, as well as recreation features like sports fields, kayaking areas, a waterfront promenade, and playgrounds. The plan also included a hotel, restaurants, stores, and residential projects at
3072-635: A legal settlement in May 2015 allowed these towers to be built, with height restrictions. Spanning 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) of the easternmost section of parkland, underneath the Manhattan Bridge, Main Street opened in December 2002 and was originally operated by NYC Parks. It came under the jurisdiction of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation on December 1, 2010. Main Street features a nautical-themed playground,
3264-748: A longstanding cultural lineage include Canarsie , Sea Gate , and Crown Heights , home to the Chabad world headquarters. Neighborhoods with largely defunct yet historically notable Jewish populations include central Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, East New York, Bensonhurst and Sheepshead Bay (particularly its Madison subsection). Many hospitals in Brooklyn were started by Jewish charities, including Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park and Brookdale Hospital in East Flatbush. According to
3456-568: A major role in supplying troops and materiel for the American Civil War . The best-known regiment to be sent off to war from the city was the 14th Brooklyn "Red Legged Devils" . They fought from 1861 to 1864, wore red the entire war, and were the only regiment named after a city. President Abraham Lincoln called them into service, making them part of a handful of three-year enlisted soldiers in April 1861. Unlike other regiments during
3648-487: A new MOU was signed, granting further funding for parkland construction and outlining the requirements for commercial and residential development. Several residential and commercial developments were also planned at the edges of the park, and the park's maintenance would be financed by payments in lieu of taxes from these developments. The first work on the Brooklyn Bridge Park was the demolition in 2007 of
3840-509: A new entrance pavilion at Pier 1 commenced in July 2023, and a pop-up skating rink called Glide opened at the park that December. After the park's completion, Michael Van Valkenburgh published a book about the park's development in 2024. Curbed architectural critic Justin Davidson wrote that the park was successful in part because Van Valkenburgh remained involved in the project long after it
4032-594: A provision in the Constitution of the United States permitting interstate compacts . The idea for the Port Authority was conceived during the Progressive Era , which aimed at the reduction of political corruption and at increasing the efficiency of government. With the Port Authority at a distance from political pressures , it was able to carry longer-term infrastructure projects irrespective of
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#17327718479924224-493: A quarter of its population, the borough has been described as "the most Jewish spot on Earth". Brooklyn's official motto, displayed on the borough seal and flag , is Eendraght Maeckt Maght , which translates from early modern Dutch as ' Unity makes strength '. Educational institutions in Brooklyn include the City University of New York 's Brooklyn College , Medgar Evers College , and College of Technology . In
4416-476: A separate mayor, elected a Borough President . In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was completed, transportation to Manhattan was no longer by water only, and the City of Brooklyn's ties to the City of New York were strengthened. The question became whether Brooklyn was prepared to engage in the still-grander process of consolidation then developing throughout the region, whether to join with the county of Richmond and
4608-987: A station on the Northeast Corridor rail line, and the AirTrain JFK system linking JFK with the Howard Beach subway station and the Jamaica subway and Long Island Rail Road stations . Major bus depots include the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street , the George Washington Bridge Bus Station , and the Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City. The PANYNJ is a major stakeholder in
4800-509: A variation of the place name " Canarsie ". Bands were associated with place names, but the colonists thought their names represented different tribes. The Breuckelen settlement was named after Breukelen in the Netherlands ; it was part of New Netherland . The Dutch West India Company lost little time in chartering the six original parishes (listed here by their later English town names): The colony's capital of New Amsterdam , across
4992-592: A variety of Jewish businesses. Adjacent to Borough Park, the Kensington area housed a significant population of Conservative Jews (under the aegis of such nationally prominent midcentury rabbis as Jacob Bosniak and Abraham Heller) when it was still considered to be a subsection of Flatbush; many of their defunct facilities have been repurposed to serve extensions of the Borough Park Hasidic community. Other notable religious Jewish neighborhoods with
5184-413: A viewing platform at the northwest corner, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group . However, when the landscaped area opened, the proposed viewing platform had not yet been constructed because of a lack of funding. Several historic boats have been moored temporarily near Pier 6, but as of February 2020, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation was seeking a boat for permanent display. New York Road Runners hosts
5376-441: A water meter magnate and close friend of President Grover Cleveland ), with nearby Crown Heights gradually fulfilling an analogous role for the city's Jewish population as development continued through the early 20th century. Northeast of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick (by now a working class, predominantly German district) established a considerable brewery industry; the so-called "Brewer's Row" encompassed 14 breweries operating in
5568-506: A way to enhance the agency's power and prestige, and agreed to the project. The Port Authority was the overseer of the World Trade Center, hiring the architect Minoru Yamasaki and engineer Leslie Robertson . Yamasaki ultimately settled on the idea of twin towers. To meet the Port Authority's requirement to build 10 million square feet (930,000 m ) of office space, the towers would each be 110 stories tall. The size of
5760-495: A weekly 3.10-mile (4.99 km) Open Run at Pier 6. At the eastern edge of Pier 6, there are three developments. The Landing, a 15-story affordable housing and market-rate apartment building with 140 units, and Quay Tower, a 28-story condo building with 126 units, both opened in 2018. One Brooklyn Bridge Park, a converted warehouse, is also located on Pier 6; it was completed in 2007 and contains 449 units. Pier 6 has been positively regarded for
5952-473: Is 5 acres (2.0 ha) in area and contains the park's only lawn, a maze of mirrors, sound installations, climbable artifacts, and stone seating. It opened on July 11, 2018. The pier includes a playground with historic bollards preserved from the pier's original industrial use. Pier 4, completed in May ;2014, was repurposed from a former railroad car float bridge that had rotted and sunk into
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6144-567: Is a joint venture between the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey , established in 1921 through an interstate compact authorized by the United States Congress . The Port Authority oversees much of the regional transportation infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports , within the geographical jurisdiction of the Port of New York and New Jersey . This 1,500-square-mile (3,900 km ) port district
6336-566: Is derived from the original Dutch town of Breukelen . The oldest mention of the settlement in the Netherlands is in a charter of 953 by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I as Broecklede . This form is made up of the words broeck , meaning bog or marshland , and lede , meaning small (dug) water stream, specifically in peat areas. Breuckelen on the American continent was established in 1646, and the name first appeared in print in 1663. Over
6528-587: Is directly adjacent to Pier 1, on the site of Brooklyn's first ferry landing, which opened in 1642. Reopened to the public in 1997, Fulton Ferry Landing provides views of the Manhattan skyline and houses the classical music venue Bargemusic . The landing includes an old fireboat house, which formerly housed the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory between 2001 and 2018. Since 2019, the fireboat house has been run by two concessionaires. The New York Water Taxi and NYC Ferry are also accessible from
6720-857: Is generally encompassed within a 25-mile (40 km) radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument . The Port Authority is headquartered at 4 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan . The Port Authority operates the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal , which consistently ranks among the largest ports in the United States by tonnage handled, and the largest on the Eastern Seaboard . The Port Authority also operates six bi-state crossings: three connecting New Jersey with Manhattan , and three connecting New Jersey with Staten Island . The Port Authority Bus Terminal and
6912-586: Is located directly south of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire–Fulton Ferry section of the park. The pier is Brooklyn Bridge Park's largest and is the only one constructed on filled land rather than pilings . The area includes two landscaped lawns overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and New York Harbor , a salt marsh with native plants, a playground, a granite lookout, a waterfront walkway, and various food and drink concessions. Fulton Ferry Landing
7104-483: Is mostly composed of native plantings, which include a marsh garden as well as a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m) lawn. Pier 6's landscape occupies the outer two-thirds of the pier. Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, it includes large lawns for events and programs and planted areas to complement the play areas on Piers 5 and 6. There is a shaded area for visitors. The landscaped area of Pier 6 opened in late 2015. The plan originally included
7296-617: Is planned to be extended from its terminus at Newark Penn Station to a new Newark Liberty International Airport Station . The PANYNJ announced in March 2023 that it was deferring funding for the Newark Airport extension to a future capital plan. Another Port Authority project involves redeveloping LaGuardia Airport, replacing three existing terminals with a single terminal. Terminal B would be demolished and terminals C and D would be merged. Some 2 miles (3.2 km) of additional taxiways are to be built, and transportation around
7488-475: Is the largest port complex on the East Coast of North America. In 2021, Port Authority seaports handled the fourth largest amount of shipping among U.S. ports, measured in total tonnage. As of August 2022, the Port Authority led the country when considering only containers and not bulk materials such as petroleum and grain. The Port Authority operates the following seaports : The Port Authority operates
7680-490: Is the second most densely populated county in the U.S. after Manhattan (New York County), as of 2022. Had Brooklyn remained an independent city, it would now be the fourth most populous American city after the rest of New York City, Los Angeles , and Chicago . Named after the Dutch town of Breukelen in the Netherlands, Brooklyn shares a border with the borough of Queens . It has several bridge and tunnel connections to
7872-507: Is water (27%); the borough is the second-largest by land area among the New York City's boroughs. However, Kings County, coterminous with Brooklyn, is New York State's fourth-smallest county by land area and third-smallest by total area. Brooklyn lies at the southwestern end of Long Island, and the borough's western border constitutes the island's western tip. Brooklyn's water borders are extensive and varied, including Jamaica Bay ;
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8064-559: The Atlantic Ocean ; The Narrows , separating Brooklyn from the borough of Staten Island in New York City and crossed by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge ; Upper New York Bay , separating Brooklyn from Jersey City and Bayonne in the U.S. state of New Jersey ; and the East River , separating Brooklyn from the borough of Manhattan in New York City and traversed by the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel ,
8256-617: The Brighton Beach Line in 1878 heralded the end of this isolation. Sports in Brooklyn became a business. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms played professional baseball at Washington Park in the convenient suburb of Park Slope and elsewhere. Early in the next century, under their new name of Brooklyn Dodgers, they brought baseball to Ebbets Field , beyond Prospect Park. Racetracks, amusement parks , and beach resorts opened in Brighton Beach , Coney Island , and elsewhere in
8448-616: The Brooklyn Bridge , the Manhattan Bridge , the Williamsburg Bridge , and numerous routes of the New York City Subway . To the east of Brooklyn lies the borough of Queens, which contains John F. Kennedy International Airport in that borough's Jamaica neighborhood, approximately two miles from the border of Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood. Under the Köppen climate classification , Brooklyn experiences
8640-481: The Brooklyn Fire Department (BFD) also gave way to the new Metropolitan Fire District. Throughout this period the peripheral towns of Kings County, far from Manhattan and even from urban Brooklyn, maintained their rustic independence. The only municipal change seen was the secession of the eastern section of the Town of Flatbush as the Town of New Lots in 1852. The building of rail links such as
8832-522: The Continental Army in the Battle of Long Island . In the middle of the night, Washington's troops evaded the quickly advancing British Army by escaping across the East River to Manhattan. As the 18th century came to a close, additional ferry services were added to this waterfront community, including docking points for the "Catherine Street Ferry" and the first steamboat ferry landing that
9024-609: The ExpressRail rail services within the seaport area, including dockside trackage and railyards for transloading . It interchanges with Conrail Shared Assets Operations (CRCX) on the Chemical Coast Secondary, Norfolk Southern (NS), CSX Transportation (CSX), and Canadian Pacific (CP). From January through October 2014 the system handled 391,596 rail lifts . As of 2014, three ExpressRail systems (Elizabeth, Newark, Staten Island) were in operation with
9216-659: The Gateway Program . The program will upgrade the Northeast Corridor by building two new tunnels under the Hudson River paralleling the existing North River Tunnels , as well as connecting infrastructure. The Port Authority also owns and operates a network of shuttle buses on its airport properties. As of 2017, the agency operates 23 Orion buses at Newark Airport, 7 at LaGuardia Airport, and 40 at JFK Airport, all purchased in 2007 and 2009. The Port Authority also participates in joint development ventures around
9408-536: The George Washington Bridge , linking the northern part of Manhattan with Fort Lee, New Jersey , with Port Authority chief engineer, Othmar Ammann , overseeing the project. The bridge was completed in October 1931, ahead of schedule and well under the estimated costs. This efficiency exhibited by the Port Authority impressed President Franklin D. Roosevelt , who used this as a model in creating
9600-828: The Goethals Bridge , the Bayonne Bridge , and the Outerbridge Crossing , which connect Staten Island and New Jersey . They also maintain many entrances approaches to these crossings, such as the GWB Plaza and Lincoln Tunnel Helix . The Port Authority operates the PATH rapid transit system linking lower and midtown Manhattan with New Jersey, the AirTrain Newark system linking Newark International Airport with NJ Transit and Amtrak via
9792-549: The Middle Colonies of nascent British America . On November 1, 1683, Kings County was partitioned from the West Riding of York Shire, containing the six old Dutch towns on southwestern Long Island, as one of the "original twelve counties" . This tract of land was recognized as a political entity for the first time, and the municipal groundwork was laid for a later expansive idea of a Brooklyn identity. Lacking
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#17327718479929984-399: The New Netherland colony in 1664, a prelude to the Second Anglo-Dutch War . New Netherland was taken in a naval action, and the English renamed the new capture for their naval commander, James, Duke of York , brother of the then monarch King Charles II and future king himself as King James II . Brooklyn became a part of the West Riding of York Shire in the Province of New York , one of
10176-430: The New York Port of Embarkation . The congestion at the port led experts to realize the need for a port authority to supervise the extremely complex system of bridges, highways, subways, and port facilities in the New York-New Jersey area. The solution was the 1921 creation of the Port Authority under the supervision of the governors of the two states. By issuing its own bonds, it was financially independent of either state;
10368-451: The PATH rail system are also run by the Port Authority, as well as LaGuardia Airport , John F. Kennedy International Airport , Newark Liberty International Airport , Teterboro Airport and Stewart International Airport . The agency has its own 2,100 member Port Authority Police Department . The Port of New York and New Jersey comprised the main point of embarkation for U.S. troops and supplies sent to Europe during World War I , via
10560-507: The Panama Canal Commission General George Washington Goethals , connected Elizabeth, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island . At the south end of Arthur Kill, the Outerbridge Crossing was built and named after the Port Authority's first chairman, Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge . Construction of both bridges was completed in 1928. The Bayonne Bridge , opened in 1931, was built across the Kill van Kull , connecting Staten Island with Bayonne, New Jersey . Construction began in 1927 on
10752-462: The South Jersey Transportation Authority , which leases the airport site from the FAA . JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty as a whole form the largest airport system in the United States, second in the world in terms of passenger traffic, and first in the world by total flight operations, with JFK being the 19th busiest in the world and the 6th busiest in the U.S. The Authority operated the Downtown Manhattan Heliport ( Manhattan , New York) until
10944-427: The State of New York to locate government offices at the World Trade Center. In August 1968, construction on the World Trade Center's north tower started, with construction on the south tower beginning in January 1969. When the World Trade Center twin towers were completed, the total cost to the Port Authority had reached $ 900 million. The buildings were dedicated on April 4, 1973, with Tobin, who had retired
11136-461: The State of New York . Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County , one of twelve original counties established under British rule in 1683 in the then Province of New York . As of the 2020 United States census , the population stood at 2,736,074, making it the most populous of the five boroughs of New York City, the most populous county in the state. Brooklyn, at 37,339.9 inhabitants per square mile (14,417.0/km ),
11328-420: The Tennessee Valley Authority and other such entities. In 1930, the Holland Tunnel was placed under the control of the Port Authority, providing significant toll revenues. The Port Authority also controlled the Lincoln Tunnel , connecting New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan . The Lincoln Tunnel opened in 1937 as a single-tube tunnel; a second tube opened in 1945, and a third tube opened in 1957. In 1962,
11520-401: The USDA plant hardiness zone 7b . Brooklyn's neighborhoods are dynamic in ethnic composition. For example, the early to mid-20th century, Brownsville had a majority of Jewish residents; since the 1970s it has been majority African American. Midwood during the early 20th century was filled with ethnic Irish , then filled with Jewish residents for nearly 50 years, and is slowly becoming
11712-402: The World Trade Center site , the Port Authority has worked since 2001 on plans for reconstruction of the site, along with Silverstein Properties , and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation . In 2006, the Port Authority reached a deal with Larry Silverstein , which ceded control of One World Trade Center to the Port Authority. The deal gave Silverstein rights to build three towers along
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#173277184799211904-440: The automobile and commuter rail -driven vogue for more remote prewar suburban communities, such as Garden City, New York and Montclair, New Jersey . The rapidly growing population needed more water, so the City built centralized waterworks, including the Ridgewood Reservoir . The municipal Police Department, however, was abolished in 1854 in favor of a Metropolitan force covering also New York and Westchester Counties. In 1865
12096-400: The patroon and tenant farmer system established along the Hudson River Valley , this agricultural county unusually came to have one of the highest percentages of slaves among the population in the "Original Thirteen Colonies" along the Atlantic Ocean eastern coast of North America . On August 27, 1776, the Battle of Long Island (also known as the 'Battle of Brooklyn') was fought,
12288-715: The " Little Fuzhou ( 小福州 )" of Brooklyn. Many Chinese restaurants can be found throughout Sunset Park, and the area hosts a popular Chinese New Year celebration. Since the 2000s going forward, the growing concentration of the Cantonese speaking population in Brooklyn have dramatically shifted to Bensonhurst/Gravesend and Homecrest creating newer Chinatowns of Brooklyn and these newer Brooklyn Chinatowns are known as "Brooklyn's Little Hong Kong/Guangdong" due to their Chinese populations being overwhelmingly Cantonese populated. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , ( PANYNJ ; stylized, in logo since 2020, as Port Authority NY NJ )
12480-494: The 'h' from its name. By 1841, with the appearance of The Brooklyn Eagle, and Kings County Democrat published by Alfred G. Stevens, the growing city across the East River from Manhattan was producing its own prominent newspaper. It later became the most popular and highest circulation afternoon paper in America. The publisher changed to L. Van Anden on April 19, 1842, and the paper was renamed The Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Kings County Democrat on June 1, 1846. On May 14, 1849,
12672-790: The 1883 poem, " The New Colossus " by Emma Lazarus , which appears on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty . The poem calls New York Harbor "the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame". As a twin city to New York, it played a role in national affairs that was later overshadowed by decades of subordination by its old partner and rival. During this period, the affluent, contiguous districts of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill (then characterized collectively as The Hill) were home to such notable figures as Astral Oil Works founder Charles Pratt and his children, including local civic leader Charles Millard Pratt ; Theosophical Society co-founder William Quan Judge ; and Pfizer co-founders Charles Pfizer and Charles F. Erhart . Brooklyn Heights remained one of
12864-488: The 1970s, much of the Brooklyn waterfront developments were largely barren and decrepit, causing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to end cargo ship operations in 1983. Many of these warehouses were demolished or abandoned by the end of the 20th century. One of the last tenants, the New York State Labor Department, continued to occupy a warehouse until 1996. The warehouses on the piers comprising Brooklyn Bridge Park were not demolished until construction began on
13056-481: The 19th century and two-thirds of the 20th century. The first center of urbanization sprang up in the Town of Brooklyn, directly across from Lower Manhattan , which saw the incorporation of the Village of Brooklyn in 1816. Reliable steam ferry service across the East River to Fulton Landing converted Brooklyn Heights into a commuter town for Wall Street . Ferry Road to Jamaica Pass became Fulton Street to East New York . Town and Village were combined to form
13248-470: The 19th century and was consolidated in 1898 with New York City (then confined to Manhattan and the Bronx ), the remaining rural areas of Kings County, and the largely rural areas of Queens and Staten Island , to form the modern City of New York. The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle Long Island's western edge, which was then largely inhabited by the Lenape , an Algonquian-speaking American Indian tribe often referred to in European documents by
13440-534: The 19th century. The waterfront from Gowanus to Greenpoint was developed with piers and factories. Industrial access to the waterfront was improved by the Gowanus Canal and the canalized Newtown Creek . USS Monitor was the most famous product of the large and growing shipbuilding industry of Williamsburg. After the Civil War , trolley lines and other transport brought urban sprawl beyond Prospect Park (completed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1873 and widely heralded as an improvement upon
13632-407: The 5-acre (2.0 ha) Pier 2 opened in May 2014 and is dedicated to active recreation. The pier is surrounded by a waterfront walkway and includes basketball , handball , bocce , and shuffleboard courts; artificial turf; swings; fitness bars; and picnic tables. It also includes restrooms, lockers, bike racks, and water fountains. A warehouse roof, preserved from when the pier was operated by
13824-412: The 87 acres (35 ha) of docklands between Piers 1 and 6 were worth several billion dollars. As early as 1981, developer David Walentas had proposed redeveloping the warehouses as part of a commercial development, but his plans were complicated by a political dispute, and then the stock market crash of 1987 . This gave rise to a protracted dispute over a 55-acre (22 ha) parcel of land at
14016-593: The American Civil War, the 14th wore a uniform inspired by the French Chasseurs , a light infantry used for quick assaults. As a seaport and a manufacturing center, Brooklyn was well prepared to contribute to the Union's strengths in shipping and manufacturing. The two combined in shipbuilding; the ironclad Monitor was built in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is referred to as the twin city of New York in
14208-570: The American Jewish Population Project in 2020, Brooklyn was home to over 480,000 Jews. In 2023, the UJA-Federation of New York estimated that Brooklyn is home to 462,000 Jews, a large decrease compared to the 561,000 estimated in 2011. The predominantly Jewish, Crown Heights (and later East Flatbush)-based Madison Democratic Club served as the borough's primary "clubhouse" political venue for decades until
14400-591: The BQE viaduct to the east. The hills were estimated to reduce the noise from the BQE from 75 decibels to 68 decibels. The park also incorporates several natural habitats, which have attracted several wildlife species, including the native but now-rare two-spotted lady beetle . According to landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the park's design is "guided by the concept of 'post-industrial nature...[and] uses unabashedly man-made landscapes to kick-start new site ecologies that can thrive and evolve in
14592-472: The Board of Commissioners after an ethics investigation revealed that her attempt to intervene in a traffic stop for her daughter included what the Port Authority described as "profoundly disturbing" conduct. New Jersey police released a videotape of her attempting to leverage her position at the Port Authority to intimidate police officers, following a routine traffic stop of a vehicle in which her adult daughter
14784-443: The Brooklyn Bridge, connects Pier 1 with the Empire–Fulton Ferry section of the park. Squibb Park Bridge , a 450-foot-long (140 m) pedestrian bridge constructed in early 2013, connected Brooklyn Heights' Squibb Park to Pier 1, providing one of several links between Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Bridge Park. The bridge was designed to be lightweight and flexible, providing a bouncy feeling to visitors walking over it. However,
14976-611: The Dumbo and Atlantic Avenue ends of the park. A model of the proposed park was released the following year, and by 2006, the Port Authority had transferred ownership of its piers to BBPDC. The new plans were opposed by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund and the Sierra Club , which objected to the inclusion of housing within the park and filed a lawsuit in 2006 to stop the plans. A state judge dismissed
15168-553: The East River waterfront in the Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo neighborhoods of Brooklyn . The park is divided into eleven sections: Piers 1 through 6; Fulton Ferry Landing ; Brooklyn Bridge Plaza; Empire Fulton Ferry; Main Street; and John Street. Each of these sections features unique topographies , plantings, amenities, and cultural artifacts and installations, and the Brooklyn–Queens Greenway spans
15360-618: The East River waterfront, stretching from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street. The MOU also formed the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC) to develop the park, following the guidelines as established by the Illustrative Master Plan. To begin the first phase of construction, New York State, New York City, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey contributed a portion of the $ 360 million of capital funding for
15552-524: The East River, obtained its charter in 1653. The neighborhood of Marine Park was home to North America's first tide mill . It was built by the Dutch, and the foundation can be seen today. But the area was not formally settled as a town. Many incidents and documents relating to this period are in Gabriel Furman 's 1824 compilation. Present-day Brooklyn left Dutch hands after the English captured
15744-520: The East River. Intended as a wildlife preserve, the pier is planted with native flora, and the beach contains seven tidal pools, some of which are open to the public. In addition, Pier 4 contains boat launches. A nature preserve called Bird Island is located off the shore of Pier 4. Bird Island contains shrubs, grasses, and trees from salt habitats, as well as three tide pools as an added ecological element. An Osprey platform has been installed to attract large fishing birds. Rip rap stones surround
15936-476: The Fort Lee entrances (used by local traffic from Fort Lee and surrounding communities) to the upper level on the George Washington Bridge , which connects to Manhattan , were reduced from three to one from September 9–13, 2013. The toll lane closures caused massive Fort Lee traffic back-ups, which affected public safety due to extensive delays by police and emergency service providers and disrupted schools due to
16128-459: The Heights, the less exclusive South Brooklyn was home to longtime civic leader James S. T. Stranahan , who became known (often derisively) as the " Baron Haussmann of Brooklyn" for championing Prospect Park and other public works. Economic growth continued, propelled by immigration and industrialization , and Brooklyn established itself as the third-most populous American city for much of
16320-542: The LDC began an intense public outreach process. However this was complicated by various disagreements among members of the LDC, as well as a dispute over why the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy was not part of the LDC. Furthermore, Walentas had announced a new development plan for the area, which would not interfere with the proposed park. Due to strong community opposition, his plan was rejected by
16512-819: The New York metropolitan area's most august patrician redoubts into the early 20th century under the aegis of such figures as abolitionist clergyman Henry Ward Beecher , Congregationalist theologians Lyman Abbott and Newell Dwight Hillis (who followed Beecher as the second and third pastors of Plymouth Church , respectively), financier John Jay Pierrepont (a grandson of founding Heights resident Hezekiah Pierrepont ), banker/art collector David Leavitt , educator/politician Seth Low , merchant/banker Horace Brigham Claflin , attorney William Cary Sanger (who served for two years as United States Assistant Secretary of War under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt ) and publisher Alfred Smith Barnes . Contiguous to
16704-581: The People, a public art installation inspired by the Statue of Liberty , was on display on Pier 3 from May to December 2014. The sculpture was a copper replica of the statue in 250 parts fabricated over the course of four years using the original techniques and materials. Visitors to Brooklyn Bridge Park saw a replica of the draped sleeve of the statue's arm which holds the golden torch. On October 20, 2016, construction started on Pier 3. The pier, which extends outward from Greenway Terrace,
16896-563: The Pier ;3 hill was formed with salvaged material from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority 's East Side Access tunneling project. The hills were also raised through the installation of foam blocks. The 20-foot-tall (6.1 m) Hill was created to help mitigate noise from the nearby Brooklyn Queens Expressway, as well as sheltering the park from Furman Street and Brooklyn Heights. Dahn Vo: We
17088-580: The Pier 3 terrace in November 2013 and Piers 2 and 4 in May 2014. The Main Street Park was renovated and expanded in August 2015, and the Pier 6 landscape opened in late 2015. The Tobacco Warehouse was also converted to a performance space in 2015, and Empire Stores opened the following year. The One 15 Marina between piers 4 and 5 also opened in April 2016, and two restaurants opened at
17280-416: The Port Authority absorbed the bankrupt Hudson & Manhattan Railroad and reorganized it as Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) . As part of the deal, the Port Authority acquired the rights to build the original World Trade Center on the site of the old Hudson Terminal , one of two terminals in Manhattan for H&M/PATH. In 1942, Austin J. Tobin became the executive director of the Port Authority. In
17472-489: The Port Authority centered on tax issues. A final agreement was made that the Port Authority would make annual payments in lieu of taxes, for the 40% of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. The remaining space was to be occupied by state and federal government agencies. In 1962, the Port Authority signed the United States Customs Service as a tenant, and in 1964 they signed a deal with
17664-599: The Port Authority for operating purposes. Newark Liberty is owned by the cities of Elizabeth and Newark and is also leased to the Authority. In 2007, Stewart International Airport , owned by the State of New York , was leased to the Port Authority. The Port Authority officially took over select management functions of the Atlantic City International Airport on July 1, 2013, in conjunction with
17856-543: The Port Authority to purchase 73.5 acres (29.7 ha) of land for the riverside development. Rather, the coalition wanted Dinkins and Cuomo to allow an alternative plan to be developed. The coalition called for the creation of a special authority, similar to the Battery Park City Authority , to take control of the site. There was some opposition to the park on the basis that the area was dangerous and far removed from residential neighborhoods. By 1996,
18048-628: The Port Authority was planning to sell or lease Piers 1 through 5, which were losing money year over year. With planning for the waterfront commencing, Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden established the Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Corporation (LDC) in 1998 to complete a year-long planning process for Brooklyn Bridge Park. New York State Senator Martin Connor and Assemblywoman Joan Millman secured $ 1 million in funding, and
18240-533: The Port Authority's policies. Under an informal power-sharing agreement, the governor of New Jersey chooses the chairman of the board and the deputy executive director, while the governor of New York selects the vice chairman and executive director. The Port Authority is headquartered at 4 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan . The agency was headquartered at 1 World Trade Center in the first World Trade Center complex, where it occupied 22,411 square feet (2,082.1 m ) of space. It had been headquartered in
18432-400: The Port Authority, partially covers the pier. Additionally, Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse operates a free summer kayaking program within the covered inlet. There is also a roller rink on Pie 2. A pop-up public swimming pool was placed at Pier 2 every summer from 2012 through 2018. The temporary pool was originally slated to be demolished at the end of the 2016 summer season but
18624-546: The Purchase Building, a warehouse beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. It was to be demolished to make way for an expanded vista at the park. Construction of the park itself began on January 28, 2008, using reclaimed soil from the new World Trade Center 's construction. Excavations for the first part of the park, Pier 1, revealed artifacts from the Jewell Milling Company, a business that occupied
18816-632: The Tobacco Warehouse, which lacked a roof, was part of the Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park. That year, the National Park Service (NPS) designated St. Ann's Warehouse , a venue for theater and community use located across the street, as the lessee for the Tobacco Warehouse. The proposed agreement came with stipulations since the park had received some federal funding. The city redrew the zoning maps thus situating
19008-490: The Town of Flatlands in 1896. Brooklyn had reached its natural municipal boundaries at the ends of Kings County. Low's time in office from 1882 to 1885 was marked by a number of reforms: Brooklyn elected a mayor from 1834 until 1898, after which it was consolidated into the City of Greater New York , whose own second mayor (1902–1903), Seth Low, had been Mayor of Brooklyn from 1882 to 1885. Since 1898, Brooklyn has, in place of
19200-636: The WTC complex beginning in 1973. After the previous headquarters were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks , the Port Authority moved into 225 Park Avenue South in Midtown Manhattan , with employees divided between offices in New York and New Jersey, before returning to the World Trade Center in 2015. Financially, the Port Authority has no power to tax and does not receive tax money from any local or state governments. Instead, it operates on
19392-409: The World Trade Center. Eighty-four employees, including 37 Port Authority police officers, its executive director, Neil D. Levin , and police superintendent, Fred V. Morrone , died. In rescue efforts following the collapse, two Port Authority police officers, John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno , were pulled out alive after spending nearly 24 hours beneath 30 feet (9.1 m) of rubble. Their rescue
19584-500: The abandoned Empire Stores warehouses into a mix of commercial and office space, designed by Studio V Architecture . The plan contained commercial and office space; restaurants and event areas; and a publicly accessible central passageway, courtyard, and rooftop. Many of the original design features were retained, such as schist walls, iron hoisting wheels, and coffee chutes. Midtown Equities originally intended to open Empire Stores in 2015. The flagship West Elm store, opened in August 2016,
19776-403: The airports into fee-generating facilities, adding stores and restaurants. David Rockefeller , president of Chase Manhattan Bank , envisioned a World Trade Center for lower Manhattan . Realizing that he needed public funding in order to construct the massive project, he approached Tobin. Although many questioned the Port Authority's entry into the real estate market, Tobin saw the project as
19968-559: The area, and afterward the British generally enjoyed a dominant Loyalist sentiment from the residents in Kings County who did not evacuate, though the region was also the center of the fledgling—and largely successful— Patriot intelligence network , headed by Washington himself. The British set up a system of prison ships off the coast of Brooklyn in Wallabout Bay . More American patriots died there than in combat on all
20160-533: The area. It is called "Brooklyn's Chinatown" and originally it was a small Chinese enclave with Cantonese speakers being the main Chinese population during the late 1980s and 1990s, but since the 2000s, the Chinese population in the area dramatically shifted to majority Fuzhounese Americans , which contributed immensely to expanding this Chinatown, and bestowing the nicknames " Fuzhou Town ( 福州埠 ), Brooklyn" or
20352-1017: The ascendancy of Meade Esposito 's rival, Canarsie-based Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club in the 1960s and 1970s, playing an integral role in the rise of such figures as Speaker of the New York State Assembly Irwin Steingut ; his son, fellow Speaker Stanley Steingut ; New York City Mayor Abraham Beame ; real estate developer Fred Trump ; Democratic district leader Beadie Markowitz; and political fixer Abraham "Bunny" Lindenbaum. Many non-Orthodox Jews (ranging from observant members of various denominations to atheists of Jewish cultural heritage) are concentrated in Ditmas Park and Park Slope , with smaller observant and culturally Jewish populations in Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island. Over 200,000 Chinese Americans live throughout
20544-415: The attack. The Port Authority was ruled to be negligent. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 , and the subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center buildings impacted the Port Authority. With the Port Authority's headquarters located in 1 World Trade Center, it became deprived of a base of operations and sustained a great number of casualties. An estimated 1,400 Port Authority employees worked in
20736-690: The battlefield engagements of the American Revolutionary War combined. One result of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 was the evacuation of the British from New York City , which was celebrated by New Yorkers into the 20th century. The first half of the 19th century saw the beginning of the development of urban areas on the economically strategic East River shore of Kings County, facing the adolescent City of New York confined to Manhattan Island. The New York Navy Yard operated in Wallabout Bay (border between Fort Greene and Williamsburg) during
20928-462: The bonds were paid off from tolls and fees, not from taxes. It became one of the major agencies of the metropolitan area for large-scale projects. Early bond issues were tied to specific projects, but this changed in 1935 when the Authority issued General and Refunding bonds with a claim on its general revenues. In the early years of the 20th century, there were disputes between the states of New Jersey and New York over rail freights and boundaries. At
21120-431: The borough of Manhattan, across the East River , and is connected to Staten Island by way of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge . With a land area of 69.38 square miles (179.7 km ) and a water area of 27.48 square miles (71.2 km ), Kings County is the state of New York's fourth-smallest county by land area and third smallest by total area. Brooklyn was founded by the Dutch in the 17th century and grew into
21312-409: The bridge bounced too much, and as a result, was closed for renovations in 2014 to strengthen the structure and allow ADA access. The renovations were completed in March 2017, but the bridge was closed again in July 2018, and park officials later decided to replace the wooden bridge with a steel replica. The original bridge was torn down in October 2019; the steel replica was completed in May 2020. At
21504-769: The carousel, built in 1922, at auction at Idora Park, Youngstown and had wanted to include it in their now-canceled development. While the Walentases now wanted to include the carousel within the park, many residents preferred the park remain a quiet open space. Ultimately, the carousel was included in the park plans, and it opened in 2011. The park development efforts culminated in the Brooklyn Bridge Park Illustrative Master Plan, published in September 2000. Subsequently, in January 2001, New York governor George Pataki announced that
21696-543: The city in December 1999. By February 2000, the Port Authority had agreed to let the piers be developed as a park, rather than for residential or commercial use. Simultaneously, park planners proposed restoring a cove at the site of Walentas's now-canceled development, expanding the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park by 2.3 acres (0.93 ha). Various disputes emerged during the planning process. The most serious disagreement concerned one key aspect of
21888-593: The city was having difficulties maintaining the status quo, losing money and unable to undertake needed expansions. The city was looking to hand the airports over to a public authority , possibly to Robert Moses ' Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority . After long negotiations with the City of New York, a 50-year lease, commencing on May 31, 1947, went to the Port Authority of New York to rehabilitate, develop, and operate La Guardia Airport (La Guardia Field), John F. Kennedy International Airport (Idlewild Airport), and Floyd Bennett Field . The Port Authority transformed
22080-524: The commander, the tactical withdrawal of all his troops and supplies across the East River in a single night is now seen by historians as one of his most brilliant triumphs. The British controlled the surrounding region for the duration of the war, as New York City was soon occupied and became their military and political base of operations in North America for the remainder of the conflict. The Patriot residents largely fled or were cleared from
22272-487: The construction of a fourth at Port Jersey underway. The Port Authority operates New York New Jersey Rail, LLC (NYNJ), a switching and terminal railroad operating a car float operation across Upper New York Bay between the Greenville Yard in Jersey City and Brooklyn. The Port Authority operates the following airports: Both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports are owned by the City of New York and leased to
22464-651: The core mission of supporting transportation infrastructure. Major projects by the Port Authority include One World Trade Center and other construction at the World Trade Center site . Other projects include a new passenger terminal at JFK International Airport, and redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B, and replacement of the Goethals Bridge. The Port Authority also has plans to buy 340 new PATH cars and begin major expansion of Stewart International Airport. As owner of
22656-413: The creation of a 7,600-square-foot (710 m) roofless landscaped area in the warehouse's triangular section, which would serve both as a publicly accessible park space and as an entrance to the theater. The warehouse opened in 2015. Empire Stores comprises seven buildings with a total of 330,000 square feet (31,000 m) of space. In 2013, Brooklyn developer Midtown Equities was selected to redevelop
22848-417: The day shift and another 12 on the night shift. Every time a rash of burglaries broke out, officials blamed burglars from New York City. Finally, in 1855, a modern police force was created, employing 150 men. Voters complained of inadequate protection and excessive costs. In 1857, the state legislature merged the Brooklyn force with that of New York City. Fervent in the Union cause, the city of Brooklyn played
23040-427: The delayed arrivals of students and teachers. Two Port Authority officials (who were appointed by Christie and would later resign) claimed that reallocating two of the toll lanes from the local Fort Lee entrance to the major highways was due to a traffic study evaluating "traffic safety patterns" at the bridge, but the executive director of the Port Authority was unaware of a traffic study. As of March 2014 ,
23232-537: The development would block the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. A lawsuit to prevent the completion of the Pierhouse was dismissed in September 2015, as was a subsequent lawsuit, in June 2016. The first residents of Pierhouse moved into the building in September 2016, and the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge was opened the following February. A former warehouse dock,
23424-535: The earlier Central Park ) into the center of the county, as evinced by gradual settlement in the comparatively rustic villages of Windsor Terrace and Kensington in the Town of Flatbush. By century's end, Dean Alvord 's Prospect Park South development (adjacent to the village of Flatbush) would serve as the template for contemporaneous " Victorian Flatbush " micro-neighborhoods and the post-consolidation emergence of outlying districts, such as Midwood and Marine Park . Along with Oak Park, Illinois , it also presaged
23616-408: The eastern edge of Pier 1 is a 108-unit condominium development called Pierhouse, as well as a 194-key hotel called 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, both developed by Toll Brothers . The developments are designed to blend in with the park design and help pay for the park's maintenance, but both have been controversial. As originally stipulated in the master plan, the park was to be funded partially by
23808-588: The eastern side of the site, including 150 Greenwich Street , 175 Greenwich Street , and 200 Greenwich Street . Also part of the plans was the World Trade Center Transportation Hub , which opened in March 2016 and replaced the temporary PATH station that opened in November 2003. The Port Authority began construction of a new terminal at Newark Airport in June 2017. The new facility will replace Terminal A and will open in 2022. The PATH 's Newark–World Trade Center train route
24000-531: The edge of the island to buffer the beach. Native birds started using the beach once it opened. On December 13, 2012, Pier 5 officially opened with three athletic fields, two playgrounds and a picnic area, which cover 5 acres (2.0 ha) acres and cost $ 26 million to develop. The artificial turf fields can be used for soccer, lacrosse, Frisbee, cricket, and rugby by youth and adult leagues and by schools. St. Francis College started hosting its Division I men's soccer home games at Pier 5, and
24192-429: The election cycles and in a more efficient manner. In 1972 it was renamed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to better reflect its status as a partnership between the two states. Throughout its history, there have been concerns about democratic accountability , or lack thereof at the Port Authority. The Port District is irregularly shaped but comprises a 1,500-square-mile (3,900 km ) area roughly within
24384-476: The first Division I game at Pier 5 was held on September 10, 2013. The inland portion of Pier 5 features 57 picnic tables, 24 grills, tetherball courts, and a child-size telescope. The Pier 5 uplands opened in June ;2017. Pier 5 contains a marina , known as One 15 Marina, which opened in May 2016. After reports of rough water conditions, a new wave-attenuation system
24576-467: The first decades of the 21st century, Brooklyn has experienced a renaissance as a destination for hipsters , with concomitant gentrification , dramatic house-price increases, and a decrease in housing affordability. Some new developments are required to include affordable housing units. Since the 2010s, parts of Brooklyn have evolved into a hub of entrepreneurship, high-technology startup firms , postmodern art , and design. The name Brooklyn
24768-581: The first ferry landing opened on the land that is now Brooklyn Bridge Park's Empire Fulton Ferry section. Soon after, a thriving trading economy developed into a small town called "het Veer", meaning "the Ferry". As het Veer grew throughout the 17th century, it became known as the "Road to the Ferry". On August 29, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War , het Veer served as a crucial strategic location for George Washington and
24960-496: The first major engagement fought in the American Revolutionary War after independence was declared , and the largest of the entire conflict. British troops forced Continental Army troops under George Washington off the heights near the modern sites of Green-Wood Cemetery , Prospect Park , and Grand Army Plaza . Washington , viewing particularly fierce fighting at the Gowanus Creek and Old Stone House from atop
25152-507: The first sound-attenuating hill within the park. The granite terrace features salvaged granite blocks within planted areas, surrounded by trees. The granite was salvaged from reconstruction work on the Roosevelt Island Bridge and Willis Avenue Bridge . Working in partnership with NYC Parks, Brooklyn Bridge Park received surplus granite from the bridge reconstruction projects, adding to its sustainable features. Additionally,
25344-467: The first, kernel incarnation of the City of Brooklyn in 1834. In a parallel development, the Town of Bushwick, farther up the river, saw the incorporation of the Village of Williamsburgh in 1827, which separated as the Town of Williamsburgh in 1840 and formed the short-lived City of Williamsburgh in 1851. Industrial deconcentration in the mid-century was bringing shipbuilding and other manufacturing to
25536-603: The landing. The landing contains railings upon which are engraved the Walt Whitman poem " Crossing Brooklyn Ferry ", as well as a deck with bronze reliefs of historic events nearby. A pavilion adjacent to the fireboat house was proposed for Fulton Ferry Landing in 2019 but was delayed due to objections by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, a 2-acre (0.81-hectare) plaza underneath
25728-475: The lawsuit ruling that the Defense Fund's claim that the proposed housing violated the state's "public trust" doctrine had no merit since these sites had never been intended to become parkland. On the other end of the spectrum, urban planner Fred Kent lamented the park plans as a missed opportunity for development on the waterfront. The General Project Plan, approved in 2006, was modified in 2010. In 2011,
25920-510: The lease expired in August 2007 but continued to operate it until the next leasee took over. The Authority had operated the other heliports in Manhattan but gave up leases for all of them over the years. The Port Authority manages every crossing between New York City and New Jersey, which include the George Washington Bridge , the Lincoln Tunnel , and the Holland Tunnel , which all connect Manhattan and Northern New Jersey, as well as
26112-399: The loss of Brooklyn's separate identity as a city was met with consternation by some residents at the time. Many newspapers of the day called the merger the "Great Mistake of 1898", and the phrase still elicits Brooklyn pride among old-time Brooklynites. Brooklyn is 97 square miles (250 km ) in area, of which 71 square miles (180 km ) is land (73%), and 26 square miles (67 km )
26304-454: The marina in 2019. By the time Pier 3 opened in July 2018, the park was 90% complete. At that point, only three sections remained to be opened: the Pier 2 uplands; a permanent swimming pool at Squibb Park; and the area under the Brooklyn Bridge, between the Empire–Fulton Ferry section and the rest of the park. The final section of the park, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, was approved in May 2020 and opened in December 2021. Work on
26496-495: The marina was completed in 2018. In mid-2010, Pier 6, located at the intersection of Furman Street and Atlantic Avenue (at the site of South Ferry ), was the second section of parkland to open. Pier 6 has a diverse array of amenities, including sand volleyball courts, concessionaires, a dog run, and plantings. The pier contains four themed playgrounds: Swing Valley, Slide Mountain, Sandbox Village, and Water Lab, which collectively span 1.6 acres (0.65 ha). Pier 6's flora
26688-414: The members of the agency's Board of Commissioners and retain the right to veto the actions of the commissioners from their own state. Each governor appoints six members to the Board of Commissioners , who are subject to state senate confirmation and serve overlapping six-year terms without pay. An executive director is appointed by the board of commissioners to deal with day-to-day operations and to execute
26880-651: The memorial ready for the 10th anniversary. A former attorney for the PANYNJ who worked on 9/11 related issues is now on the federal bench, Angel Kelley . The Fort Lee lane closure scandal was a US political scandal that concerns New Jersey Governor Chris Christie 's staff and his Port Authority political appointees conspiring to create a traffic jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey as political retribution, and their attempts to cover up these actions and suppress internal and public disclosures. Dedicated toll lanes for one of
27072-403: The most part. However, there have been some complaints about the pier entrance's proximity to the BQE ramps, which have been described as a safety concern. In addition, in the park's early years, several groups unsuccessfully sued to prevent the development of the residential developments at Pier 6. Residents filed a lawsuit in August 2014 to try to stop these developments from being built, but
27264-410: The name that its origin has been debated; some have claimed breuckelen means "broken land". The current name, however, is the one that best reflects its meaning. The history of European settlement in Brooklyn spans more than 350 years. The settlement began in the 17th century as the small Dutch-founded town of "Breuckelen" on the East River shore of Long Island , grew to be a sizeable city in
27456-470: The name was shortened to The Brooklyn Daily Eagle ; on September 5, 1938, it was further shortened to Brooklyn Eagle . The establishment of the paper in the 1840s helped develop a separate identity for Brooklynites over the next century. The borough's soon-to-be-famous National League baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers , also assisted with this. Both major institutions were lost in the 1950s:
27648-454: The nation. Brooklyn contains dozens of distinct neighborhoods representing many of the major culturally identified groups found within New York City. Among the most prominent are listed below: Over 600,000 Jews , particularly Orthodox and Hasidic Jews , have become concentrated in such historically Jewish areas as Borough Park , Williamsburg , and Midwood , where there are many yeshivas , synagogues , and kosher restaurants, as well as
27840-433: The northern part of the county. Each of the two cities and six towns in Kings County remained independent municipalities and purposely created non-aligning street grids with different naming systems. However, the East River shore was growing too fast for the three-year-old infant City of Williamsburg; it, along with its Town of Bushwick hinterland, was subsumed within a greater City of Brooklyn in 1855, subsequently dropping
28032-554: The paper closed in 1955 after unsuccessful attempts at a sale following a reporters' strike, and the baseball team decamped for Los Angeles in a realignment of Major League Baseball in 1957. Agitation against Southern slavery was stronger in Brooklyn than in New York, and under Republican leadership, the city was fervent in the Union cause in the Civil War . After the war the Henry Ward Beecher Monument
28224-434: The park has led to the construction of residential developments with some of the most expensive housing units in Brooklyn. This included a $ 19.2 million penthouse, which became the most expensive home in Brooklyn when it was put up for sale in 2017. However, during the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park, groups filed several lawsuits to stop the construction of various developments in the park. A 2014 lawsuit, alleging that
28416-401: The park in 2008. In 1984, shortly after closing cargo ship operations on this stretch of waterfront, the Port Authority decided to sell the vacant piers for commercial development. In response to these plans, the not-for-profit organization Friends of Fulton Ferry Landing was established in 1985, conceiving the idea of Brooklyn Bridge Park. At the time of the piers' sale, it was estimated that
28608-602: The park includes the preexisting Empire–Fulton Ferry and Main Street Parks; the historic Fulton Ferry Landing ; and Piers 1–6, which contain various playgrounds and residential developments. The park also includes Empire Stores and the Tobacco Warehouse, two 19th-century structures, and is a part of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, a series of parks and bike paths around Brooklyn. The park's first portion, Pier 1, opened in 2010. The land for
28800-478: The park was formerly an industrial stretch of waterfront owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey . After the city and state signed a joint agreement in 2002, site planning and project funding proceeded. The first work, undertaken in 2007, involved the demolition of a warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge. Since the opening of Pier 1, several other portions of the park have been completed. The park
28992-569: The park, as does the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway . The park includes engineering features such as a water garden used as a storm-reclamation system, a series of hills to block noise from the BQE, and several areas designed with microclimates . Several parts of the park have reused design features from the former warehouses, such as steel trellises and wood. The park's design includes 20 to 30 foot (6.1 to 9.1 m) -high hills between Piers 2–5, which block noise from
29184-535: The park. After Piers 1 and 6 were opened to the public, a nonprofit corporation sharing a name with the park was established to continue parkland construction and to plan for park maintenance and operation. The Empire–Fulton Ferry section, including Jane's Carousel, reopened in September 2011. The same year, Brooklyn Bridge Park won the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence silver medal. Pier 5 subsequently opened in December 2012, followed by
29376-511: The past two millennia, the name of the ancient town in Holland has been Bracola , Broccke , Brocckede , Broiclede , Brocklandia , Broekclen , Broikelen , Breuckelen, and finally Breukelen . The New Amsterdam settlement of Breuckelen also went through many spelling variations, including Breucklyn , Breuckland , Brucklyn , Broucklyn , Brookland , Brockland , Brocklin , and Brookline/Brook-line . There have been so many variations of
29568-404: The post- World War II period, the Port Authority expanded its operations to include airports, and marine terminals , with projects including Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminals . Meanwhile, the city-owned La Guardia Field was nearing capacity in 1939 and needed expensive upgrades and expansion. At the time, airports were operated as loss leaders , and
29760-482: The project raised ire from the owner of the Empire State Building , which would lose its title of tallest building in the world. Other critics objected to the idea of this much "subsidized" office space going on the open market, competing with the private sector. Others questioned the cost of the project, which in 1966 had risen to $ 575 million. Final negotiations between The City of New York and
29952-409: The project was canceled in March 2023 after several years of delays. The Port Authority is also planning to redevelop the entirety of John F. Kennedy International Airport, replacing four existing terminals with two new terminals at a cost of $ 11 billion. Roadway access, as well as train capacity on the AirTrain JFK , would be expanded. Under the plan, the first gates would open in 2023, and
30144-447: The project: the inclusion of luxury housing units. While supporters stated that the housing would help fund the park, opponents argued that it was a " Faustian bargain " that would set a precedent for privately owned public parks, and that the inclusion of housing would no longer make the Brooklyn Bridge Park a true park. There were also disputes over whether to place Jane's Carousel within the park; Walentas and his wife Jane had purchased
30336-428: The public interest. The Harbor Development Commission, a joint advisory board set-up in 1917, recommended that a bi-state authority be established to oversee efficient economic development of the port district. The Port of New York Authority was established on April 30, 1921, through an interstate compact between the states of New Jersey and New York . This was the first such agency in the United States, created under
30528-866: The region, including the Teleport business park on Staten Island , Bathgate Industrial Park in the Bronx , the Industrial Park at Elizabeth, the Essex County Resource Recovery Facility , Newark Legal Center , Queens West in Long Island City , and the South Waterfront in Hoboken . However, by April 2015, the agency was considering divesting itself of the properties to raise revenue and return to
30720-416: The repercussions and controversy surrounding these actions continue to be under investigation by the Port Authority, federal prosecutors, and a New Jersey legislature committee. The Port Authority's chairman, David Samson , who was appointed by Governor Christie, resigned on March 28, 2014, amid allegations of his involvement in the scandal and other controversies. In April 2018, Caren Turner resigned from
30912-541: The revenues it makes from its rents, tolls, fees, and facilities. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners are public. Members of the public may address the Board at these meetings, subject to a prior registration process via email. Public records of the Port Authority may be requested via the Office of the Secretary according to an internal Freedom of Information policy which is intended to be consistent with and similar to
31104-404: The sale of housing units at the boundary of Pier 1. The 2005 draft environmental impact statement (EIS) proposed, among other things, a 110-foot (34 m) residential building that was to replace some warehouses. However, the final EIS was edited to make the building only 100 feet (30 m) high. Construction on the projects began in 2013 after Toll Brothers won the competition to design
31296-503: The site in the 19th century. The project used soil and excess materials from other construction projects around the city, such as the rebuilding of the Willis Avenue Bridge and Roosevelt Island Bridge , as well as East Side Access . The park was described as the "most important public space" to be built in Brooklyn in over a century, akin to Central Park in the late 19th century. Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park
31488-454: The site. The Port Authority wanted to create a riverside residential development with between 2,200 and 8,800 housing units, surrounded by a 20-acre (8.1 ha) park. The Brooklyn Heights Association wanted the park to occupy the majority of the land, 43 acres (17 ha), with hotels and restaurants spread across the length of the park. As the Friends of Fulton Ferry Landing grew, its name
31680-638: The southern part of the county. Toward the end of the 19th century, the City of Brooklyn experienced its final, explosive growth spurt. Park Slope was rapidly urbanized, with its eastern summit soon emerging as the city's third "Gold Coast" district alongside Brooklyn Heights and The Hill; notable residents of the era included American Chicle Company co-founder Thomas Adams Jr. and New York Central Railroad executive Clinton L. Rossiter. East of The Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant coalesced as an upper middle class enclave for lawyers, shopkeepers, and merchants of German and Irish descent (notably exemplified by John C. Kelley,
31872-537: The southern parts of Brooklyn, primarily concentrated in Sunset Park , Bensonhurst , Gravesend , and Homecrest . Brooklyn is the borough that is home to the highest number of Chinatowns in New York City . The largest concentration is in Sunset Park along 8th Avenue, which has become known for its Chinese culture since the opening of the now-defunct Winley Supermarket in 1986 spurred widespread settlement in
32064-459: The state Freedom of Information policies of both New York and New Jersey. Members of the Board of Commissioners are typically business titans and political power brokers who maintain close relationships with their respective governors. On February 3, 2011, former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson was named the new chairman of the Port Authority by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Gov. Christie announced Samson's resignation in March 2016,
32256-534: The state would contribute $ 87 million of the then-projected construction cost of $ 150 million. This coincided with the acquisition of the final 1.16-acre (0.47 ha) plot of land that was needed for the park. On May 2, 2002, Pataki and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) wherein New York State and the City of New York agreed to create, develop, and operate Brooklyn Bridge Park on 85 acres (34 ha) of
32448-406: The structures. Residents filed a lawsuit in 2014, claiming that the hotel's bulkheads exceeded the height limit for the site, but the lawsuit was dismissed the following June on the grounds that no rules were being violated. Construction on the Pierhouse units was stopped temporarily in January 2015 after its developers proposed raising the building's roof by 3.5 feet (1 m); opponents claimed that
32640-505: The terminals would be reorganized. The redevelopment is expected to cost $ 7.6 billion in total. Construction started in 2016, and the first part of the new terminal opened in 2021, with completion in 2026. As part of the reconstruction, the AirTrain LGA people mover system was to have been built between the airport and Willets Point, Queens . The AirTrain was supposed to start construction in 2020 and be completed by 2022, but
32832-414: The time, rail lines terminated on the New Jersey side of the harbor, while ocean shipping was centered on Manhattan and Brooklyn. Freight had to be shipped across the Hudson River in barges. In 1916, New Jersey launched a lawsuit against New York over issues of rail freight, with the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) issuing an order that the two states work together, subordinating their own interests to
33024-405: The warehouse on city property, leading to a lawsuit by opponents. The NPS's move to designate St. Ann's as the lessee for the warehouse was revoked by court order in 2011. The following year, the city reached an agreement where it would give the warehouse to St. Ann's in exchange for constructing an additional 1 acre (0.40 ha) of parkland underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. A design for the theater
33216-417: The waterfront from Brooklyn Heights. Throughout the 1950s, over 130 warehouses and 25 smaller "finger piers" were demolished along Brooklyn's waterfront. To accommodate larger ships and cargo, the New York Dock Company built 13 new piers between 1956 and 1964, comprising what is now Piers 1–3 and 5–6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. However, as trade technology advanced, so did trade routes. By
33408-454: The waterfront, and the area soon became known as "the walled city". In addition to the warehouses, the Empire Stores were constructed between 1870 and 1885. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was opened. While the Brooklyn Bridge formed a needed link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, it also disrupted ferry traffic, which reported sharp drops in patronage. In addition, the bridge bypassed the waterfront, spurring more inland development and neglecting
33600-422: The waterfront. The Manhattan Bridge , which opened in 1909, further disrupted trade to this section of the East River . The addition of these two crucial bridges resulted in the demise of this waterfront and the closing of the Fulton Ferry Landing in 1924. The construction of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade in 1950, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) underneath it in 1954, posed another barrier to accessing
33792-412: The west. It connects to Pier 1 to the south. This part of the park was formerly a state park, but was incorporated into Brooklyn Bridge Park in 2010. It contains a lawn with picnic areas, as well as a promenade facing the East River. Two Civil-War era structures, the Tobacco Warehouse and Empire Stores, are located on the site; both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Until 2010,
33984-502: The western portion of Queens County , and the county of New York , which by then already included the Bronx , to form the five boroughs of a united City of New York. Andrew Haswell Green and other progressives said yes, and eventually, they prevailed against the Daily Eagle and other conservative forces. In 1894, residents of Brooklyn and the other counties voted by a slight majority to merge, effective in 1898. Kings County retained its status as one of New York State's counties, but
34176-421: The world, Brooklyn has evolved a globally cosmopolitan ambiance of its own, demonstrating a robust and growing demographic and cultural diversity with respect to metrics including nationality, religion, race, and domiciliary partnership . In 2010, 51.6% of the population was counted as members of religious congregations. In 2014, there were 914 religious organizations in Brooklyn, the 10th most of all counties in
34368-478: The year before, absent from the ceremonies. In 1986, the Port Authority sold rights to the World Trade Center name for $ 10 to an organization run by an outgoing executive, Guy F. Tozzoli . He in turn made millions of dollars selling the use of the name in up to 28 different states. After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing , the Port Authority was sued by survivors of the attack for negligence in not making security upgrades to known flaws that could have prevented
34560-423: Was a passenger. Her case was referred to New Jersey's Ethics Commission. In May 2024, the Authority transferred ownership of the Brooklyn Port Authority Marine Terminal & Red Hook Container Terminal to the City of New York in exchange for ownership of the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island. The Port Authority is jointly controlled by the governors of New York and New Jersey , who appoint
34752-440: Was built downtown to honor a famous local abolitionist . A great victory arch was built at what was then the south end of town to celebrate the armed forces; this place is now called Grand Army Plaza . The number of people living in Brooklyn grew rapidly early in the 19th century. There were 4,402 by 1810, 7,175 in 1820 and 15,396 by 1830. The city's population was 25,000 in 1834, but the police department comprised only 12 men on
34944-418: Was changed in 1989 to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition, an organization dedicated to advocating for the park's creation, which is now known as the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. That year, the coalition petitioned Mayor-elect David Dinkins and Governor Mario Cuomo to prevent the Port Authority from immediately selling the site to developers Larry Silverstein and Arthur G. Cohen , who were in talks with
35136-438: Was closed in early 2010 for renovations, and was devolved to Brooklyn Bridge Park's control. The first 6 acres (2.4 ha) of park opened in March 2010 at Pier 1 and contained waterfront walkways, a playground, lookout, and lawn. Later that summer nearly 12 acres (4.9 ha) of parkland opened on Pier 6 and the Pier 2 uplands, bringing playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, concessionaires, and natural habitats to
35328-430: Was complete. Davidson wrote that landscape features were combined to make the park "spectacular but un-precious, informal but highly artificial, tough enough to withstand crowds and violent weather". At the time, the park had 5 million annual visitors, of which only a third came from the surrounding neighborhood. The operator of the park's marina filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2024. Since opening,
35520-485: Was created by Robert Fulton , which eventually became known as the Fulton Ferry Landing . The community continued to grow into the 19th century as Brooklyn Heights developed into a residential neighborhood, eventually becoming one of America's first suburbs, as ramps and bridges to the waterfront were built. By the 1850s, Brooklyn City Railroad rail lines were installed at the Fulton Ferry Landing. During this boom period, brick warehouse development proliferated along
35712-452: Was finished in December 2021. There have been disputes and lawsuits over several aspects of Brooklyn Bridge Park, including the construction of residential developments to help pay for the project. Brooklyn Bridge Park is overseen by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates and maintains the park, as well as oversees its construction. The park is served by several bus, subway, and ferry routes. In 1642,
35904-406: Was installed at the site and completed in May 2019. There are 100 berths in the marina, as well as a floating dock. Pier 5's marina was developed and operated by Edgewater Resources, a marina construction and management company. The community boating program offers free and low-cost kayaking, fishing, and sailing programs, and two percent of revenue is used to fund these programs. A boathouse near
36096-405: Was kept for two more years due to high demand and popularity. The pop-up pool closed by the end of the 2018 season and was demolished, to be replaced by the Pier 2 uplands, and construction started on a new permanent pool in the nearby Squibb Park. In November 2013, the Greenway Terrace opened on the shoreline adjacent to Pier 3. The terrace contains expansive lawns, a granite terrace, and
36288-414: Was later portrayed in the 2006 Oliver Stone film World Trade Center . Future Executive Director Christopher O. Ward was at the World Trade Center on 9/11, and is a survivor of the attack. Ward was Chief of External Affairs & Director of Port Development under Neil Levin at the time. As the executive director from 2008 to 2011, he is credited with turning around Ground Zero construction and having
36480-466: Was opened in 1927, with some planning and construction pre-dating the Port Authority. With the rise in automobile traffic, there was demand for more Hudson River crossings. Using its ability to issue bonds and collect revenue, the Port Authority has built and managed major infrastructure projects. Early projects included bridges across the Arthur Kill , which separates Staten Island from New Jersey. The Goethals Bridge , named after chief engineer of
36672-432: Was revealed in 2013. In its roofless state, the Tobacco Warehouse was shaped like a trapezoid , composed of a rectangle and adjacent triangle. Marvel Architects designed a 18,000-square-foot (1,700 m) enclosed performance space; a 1,000-square-foot (93 m) community area; and various rooms for community, educational, and office use. The design called for the preservation of the building's original brick walls, and for
36864-421: Was the first tenant to open in Empire Stores. followed by the Brooklyn Historical Society 's Dumbo exhibition space in May 2017. Upon the opening of other shops, Empire Stores' waterfront location quickly became a popular spot for selfies , especially those with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. Brooklyn Brooklyn is a borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in
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