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May 29, 2007

Williamsburg State Park Opens to Little Fanfare

After several years of anticipation, the as-yet-unnamed State Park at North 9th Street on the Williamsburg waterfront opened on Saturday to little fanfare. There were no picnic tables, no jungle gyms and (much to our chagrin when we stopped by on Sunday) not even a tree to seek shade under, but Williamsburg inhabitants still seemed pleased (if slightly underwhelmed) to have an alternative to Grand Ferry Park for accessing the East River. “It’s nice,” said Paul Jenkins, a musician, told The New York Times. “But it looks a little parched, like an afterthought, or that they didn’t put much love into it.” The 7.5-acre park (which the state bought for $7.3 million) is said to have "recreational facilities" and longer hours in its future, but for now it remains accessible (to only the dog-less and bike-less) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Did any readers stop by this weekend? What did you think?
Modest Space, but It Does Have a View [NY Times]
New Williamsburg Park's Opening Day! [Gowanus Lounge]
Yes, We're Open! [I'm Not Sayin']

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if I can't walk my dog there i'll never go. especially if it's closed at night.

Posted by: anon at May 29, 2007 10:27 AM

We stopped by, it looked like the old "park" that was there, except they cut the grass and kicked out the few people that used to live there. I thought it was public land before (they used to have park signs around the fence), so I'm not sure what they paid $7 million for. It was pretty gettho considering how many millions of dollars the rezoning will make the developers.

Posted by: John at May 29, 2007 10:28 AM

wow, you guys are so negative. please stay away from our park. the less people the better.

i thought it was pretty awesome (and i've lived down the block for almost 10 years).

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:09 AM

Can't beleive the no dog rule. What a joke.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:11 AM

I love the idea of a weekend only park, so convenient. Can we impose this rule on all City Parks?

Posted by: GrandPa at May 29, 2007 11:14 AM

Would be great if they made it similar to the fulton ferry park in DUMBO. That's an awesome park...

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:18 AM

I live in the burg and am incredibly happy to have had some space spared in the development boom.

That said, I stopped by but couldn't go in because I had my dog, which is especially funny (yes 11:11) considering how the space is quite unifinished. I suppose state parks can impose that rule, but hopefully it will change.

From the outside, the park appears to have had very little $ thrown its way, aside from the fences to keep visitors out during the week. Let's hope some of these things change since the space is large and has HUGE potential.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:36 AM

the grand ferry park is full of dog doo, at least you can sit on the grass here. Many dog-owners are not as responsible as the dog-owners reading this site.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:37 AM

The no dog rule applies to all State Parks, no? I think this is a big issue in the Dumbo State park as well.

As for this park - its definitely nice to have a substantial open space on the waterfront. But they sure didn't go to much trouble, huh? As 11:18 notes, hopefully this will be like Dumbo, which is an awesome park. But the state is going to have to spring for sprinklers first - or start posting brush-fire warning signs.

Posted by: Halden at May 29, 2007 11:38 AM

no bikes either, right? silly rules!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 11:40 AM

Despite the no-dog rule, I think the park is a really nice addition to the neighborhood. We were turned away on Saturday because of our dog, but we were able to have an awesome BBQ cookout yesterday afternoon.

I think this park has a lot of potential.

Posted by: el192 at May 29, 2007 12:12 PM

I can't wait for the proposed park at One Brooklyn Bridge to come about.

Posted by: HistoricBrooklyn.com at May 29, 2007 12:30 PM

I think the no dog rule is a little sadistic. A lot of people get their outdoor exercize walking their dogs. Making parks off-limits to these folks is just mean-spirited. Thank you New York State I hope someone in Albany is getting pleasure from turning people away from a public park because they are walking a dog.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 12:35 PM

Those same lazy-asses who only get their exercise walking the dog are the same lazy-asses who let their dogs crap the lawn and are too much of a lazy-ass to clean it up

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 1:05 PM

Dear 1:05
you should get a dog, it may help you with your rage issues.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 1:18 PM

dogs poop, Cats rule, people suck who don't clean up poo I moved away from willy burg in 1994 and they were talkin about a park then. glad to see it got built after all these years. Kinda of pathetic it took so long. Gee thanks new york I am glad my taxes are working.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 1:26 PM

I don't think 1.05 has "rage issues" (unless you are using New York Post-style hyperbole). Lazy people are often lazy in many aspects of their lives - clearly there are lazy dog owners who don't clear up. Just go and sit on the grass without looking below you in the grand ferry park if you don't think so. You'll get a nasty surprise.

And why is it mean-spirited to ban dogs? There are dog-owners (I use that term loosely) in the large rent-stabilized building opposite me who keep dogs that have been bred for hundreds of years for fighting purposes, specially selected for those characteristics, now cooped up in the city. My neighbor with children is more than happy to use a park where those dogs won't be walking around. Afterall, you can still take your dog to McCarren.

This isn't an attack on your little pooch - don't take it so personally. Its perfectly reasonable to have a dog-free park in an area where there are alternatives.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 2:00 PM

2:00 - point well taken but the problem is that same 'dog owner' probably is also raising children that are (or will be) likely far more dangerous to you and your kids then any dog - which is why it is nice to walk with a big dog.
The simple solution is to allow dog walking (i.e. on path/pavement) on (short) lease only. But when dealing with Albany, common snese is rarely involved.

Posted by: David at May 29, 2007 2:14 PM

Dogs ar very important to many New Yorkers. They provide companionship, exercise and an easy way to meet new people. Studies have shown that older folks with dogs tend to live longer. Parks are made for kids and dogs. A visit to Central Park or Prospect Park on a nice spring day will confirm that. One has to be pretty embittered or unhappy to rail agaisnt puppy dogs in parks.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 2:26 PM

1:18 and others. I used to own a dog in NYC and I know exactly what it entails. It has nothing to do with rage nor my feelings. Just don't appreciate lazy assholes who will be letting theirs crap the lawn without scooping it. If they feel the need to do that, then build them a dog run. Guess we should just open up the Sheep Meadow for dogs as well and assume no one will be lying down in shit.

You all must be quite intelligent that you can psycho-analyze someone by a one line post.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 2:38 PM

You forgot to mention that frisbees and ball playing are also "illegal" at the park. You're only allowed to look around.

Posted by: Saddam at May 29, 2007 3:05 PM

John (10:28), the $7M was for the land acquisition. Very little money has been spent on development.

1:26, yes, development of the park has been discussed for years. But this is a unique site with a unique history that is too long to narrate here but explains most, but not all, of the delay. That said, this is not the final design for the park, so more waiting is in store. At least now there is legal access to the property.

And if dogs aren't allowed, who is in the middle of the five-some in the photo at the top of the thread?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 3:15 PM

So if you played frisbee with a dog you would really end up in Fed. prison.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 3:16 PM

I live on N 8th between Wythe & Kent and it's kind of a bummer the park is little more now than what it was before it was a "park" but I do think it has potential...

Also, as a responsible dog owner who always picks up the pooh, it would be nice to be able to walk down there with my 18-lb fighting machine, I mean, dog.

Posted by: Lisa at May 29, 2007 4:27 PM

Rail against "puppy" dogs? Anon 2.26

I can't believe you actually wrote that.

And yes lisa (4.27), the other poster was saying "all dogs are murderers" - so your sarcasm is well placed.

Is there anyone here who can have an adult discussion about the pros and cons of dogs in parks - you bunch argue your points like high-schoolers.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 5:12 PM

oooooh 5:12 you seemm so mature and, well, humorless. But I suppose that is a result of being superior and ultra-sophisticated. Also that touch of Asberger's in the family probably adds to your mystique -n'est-ce pas?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 7:46 PM

It is an Asperger

Posted by: Anonymous at May 29, 2007 10:38 PM

it is possible this rule will not be enforced like the no bike rule. I showed up on Monday to check it out and there were plenty of people on bikes. It turns out they where just asking people to walk there bikes in.
Also I want to add the park is much more impressive when you get down to the water. It has great potential the amount of unused space on the concrete is very huge

Posted by: mt at May 30, 2007 1:01 AM

i accidentally stumbled onto the park this past weekend. i lived in williamsburg years ago and didn't even know they had this planned. it was a great surprise. i think it has huge potential and it's way better than another luxury high rise blocking out the sun so how can you complain about that, dogs or no dogs!

Posted by: loisida at May 30, 2007 1:34 PM

I'm cool with the no dog rule. I'm a dog lover myself but so many WBurg streets are covered with huge loads of dog poo. It's an obstacle course just to get to the subway in the morning, and I'm happy to not have to deal with that when looking for a spot to sit in the park.

Posted by: Marco at May 30, 2007 1:37 PM

Dogs are awesome, but I agree that it's nice to have dog-free people areas too. It's nice to sit in poopless grass and eat with out happy albeit annoying pups looking for a treat. I'm sure a dog run is in the plans, so you'll just have to be patient.

Half of the dumbo park is state, and half is city. The city half is much, much nicer, and the guards at the state half are usually pretty assholy.

Posted by: d at June 8, 2007 5:03 PM

poopless grass - you should also ask if it contains the pesticides and insecticides that will kill your children far quicker than dog shit.
this city is as silly as america
and bikeless? i have to assume this is so that all attempts to get bike paths along the water in brooklyn are dampened by property lines.
and no recreational activities allowed, watch out for that one, because one day your kid may ask you why you didn't move to the suburbs afterall so that they can go to the park to play, the only thing i can remember liking about the park when i was a kid.
the picnics and viewing only parks are for people satisfied with what the city has in mind for the future. supporters beware, you are being counted as popular votes for the current park rules.

Posted by: e at June 17, 2007 1:33 PM

« City Home Ownership Up But Still Relatively Low Duffield Cheerleader May Lose House Cuz Of Mom »

May 29, 2007

Williamsburg State Park Opens to Little Fanfare

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