A recent post here on Brownstoner offered an inside look at 60 Water — the new rental building in the heart of Dumbo — including photographs of the views from the apartments’ floor-to-ceiling windows and new renderings of its stunning rooftop garden.

One of the main selling points of living in 60 Water, however, is its prime Dumbo location. Visitors and residents alike will find treasures in all directions, and among the most notable of these is Brooklyn Bridge Park, an expansive 85-acre waterfront oasis that offers an incredible array of activities, entertainment, and green spaces that is practically in 60 Water’s back yard.

 

brooklyn-bridge-parkBrooklyn Bridge Park | Chang via Foursquare

Brooklyn Bridge Park covers the 1.3 mile stretch from Atlantic Avenue in the south to Jay Street in the north. Back in the 17th century, the area served as the base for the ferries that provided access and trade to the community, and warehouses and stores quickly sprang up in the industrial boom that followed. Since the 1950s, however, freight traffic to the Brooklyn waterfront dwindled, and the piers and warehouses were abandoned for years.

In 1985, the idea for the park was born, and with a lot of nurturing and fundraising and support its construction started in 2008. Today it is a thriving and vibrant destination filled with lawns and sports fields, playgrounds and music venues, concessionaires and events, and new plans and projects in the works all the time.

With so much to offer and explore, the park is a world unto itself. Here are some of its not-to-miss highlights.

janes-carousel-brooklyn-bridge-park-dumboJane’s Carousel | Vee B. via Foursquare

Jane’s Carousel
The carousel is a true piece of Americana that has been brought back to life and placed in a spectacular modern setting. It’s a late 19th-century wooden carousel originally designed and constructed by the lead carver for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, and it was the first carousel to ever be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Originally located in Ohio, it was purchased, moved to the park, lovingly restored, and its 42 magnificent horses are now available to ride for just $2.

This is just one of many nearby attractions for kids. The park includes a whopping nine different playgrounds, from the nautically themed Main Street Playground on one end to Swing Valley, Slide Mountain, Sandbox Village, and the Waterlab at Pier 6.

 

brooklyn-bridge-park-dumbo-yogaRelaxing yoga | Mauricio G. via Foursquare

Recreation
As fantastic and engaging as the children’s playgrounds may be, the park’s designers dedicated equal energies to grown-up recess time. Brooklyn Bridge Park features active recreation venues ranging from acres of basketball, handball, bocce and shuffleboard courts to artificial turf fields for youth and adult soccer. Whether you’re into ultimate Frisbee, cricket, rugby, lacrosse, bocce, handball, or beach volleyball, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers you a place to play.

The lawns of Pier 2 are dotted with fitness equipment and equipped with restrooms, lockers, bike racks and water bottle filling stations, plus free kayaking sessions on Thursday nights and Saturdays when the weather is nice.

There’s also a covered roller rink at Pier 2, outfitted with equipment for skaters of all ages and levels. And if you’re into running or cycling, the park lies along the Brooklyn Greenway, a 14-mile waterfront path that, when finished, will stretch from Greenpoint all the way down to Bay Ridge.

 

brooklyn-bridge-park-pop-up-poolPop-Up Pool | Andreas H. via Foursquare

Pop-Up Pool
Also on Pier 2, the Pop-Up Pool makes for a lovely day out on a warm day. It’s small and kid-friendly, and offers limited admission to ensure that things don’t get too crowded.

For those who don’t want to get into the water (or need a break) there’s a sandy beach area with umbrellas and a food concession offering ice cream, burgers and hot dogs. If the pool’s too crowded, keep your bathing suit on and head over to Pier 6, where you’ll find a fantastic sprinkler park.

 

brooklyn-bridge-park-smorgasburg-dumbo-brooklyn-heightsSmorgasburg | Danny L. via Foursquare

Food and Drink
All along the park, there are plenty of places to sample the local cuisine. At Pier 1, you can find fresh-squeezed lemonade from Lizzmonade, sandwiches from No.7  Sub, and lobster rolls from Luke’s Lobster. (Or, if you’re not hungry, sit with a glass of wine at the Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar.) Pier 5 features ice cream from Ample Hill Creamery, and at Pier 6, you can sit on a rooftop and enjoy Fornino’s wood-fired pizza while enjoying the view.

Pier 5 is also the seasonal home to the Brooklyn phenomenon known as Smorgasburg, a not-to-miss food extravaganza that is held every Saturday from spring through fall. A gathering of over 100 local food vendors, ranging from wineries to popsicle makers, Smorgasburg is a paradise for foodies.

 

brooklyn-bridge-park-pier-3-granite-terracePier 3’s Granite Terrace | Sara S. via Foursquare

Pier 3’s Granite Terrace
Brooklyn Bridge Park is dotted with picnic spaces throughout, but one of the most peaceful and serene locations can be found on Pier 3’s Granite Terrace. The location was designed from salvaged granite blocks that are placed within beautifully landscaped areas, and those seeking its quiet are rewarded with magnificent views that are quiet and shaded. The site is also home to Dahn Vo: We the People, an art installation that is a tribute to the Statue of Liberty.

 

Activities

With so much to offer, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a place to be enjoyed at your leisure, over many visits. There is also a robust schedule of events and activities in and around the park. Here are just a few of the upcoming activities:

— Guided Park Tours are provided every Sunday at 11 a.m. between now and October. The tours give an overview of the park’s history, its design and all it has to offer.

— Bargemusic — family-friendly concerts right on the water at Fulton Ferry Landing — will be held every Saturday at 4:00 in the afternoon. Doors open fifteen minutes before each performance. Seating is limited, and first-come, first-served.

— Sunrise Abhaya Yoga, Mondays at 7:30 a.m from June 15 through July 27, will be held on the Pier 6 lawns.

— Syfy Movies with a View — a feature of free outdoor movie screenings held in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The events kick off July 9th and run every Thursday through the end of August. Each night will feature a DJ set at 6 p.m. followed by a short film, and then the feature presentation. Make sure you arrive early to get a good spot.

— The Stable Building (16 Main) is opening soon and will bring the 111 Front Street galleries to the ground floor

— Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3 catch the open studios for the Sharpe Walentas Studio Program.

— DUMBO First Thursdays Gallery Walk brings you to each of DUMBO’s art galleries every first Thursday of the month.

 

Make an appointment to visit the leasing office to see studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments at 60 Water, and make Brooklyn Bridge Park the best back yard you’ve ever had.

 

You can also check out the listings for 60 Water Street on Brownstoner Real Estate.

 


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