Witnesses Promise $5.5 Million to Repair Dumbo Park. Enough to Fix Community Relationship?

Talk about a quick turnaround. Just three weeks after local pols called for the Jehovah’s Witnesses to make once-promised repairs to Dumbo’s Bridge Park II, the religious organization pledged $5.5 million to overhaul the park.

Or is it a long-delayed turnaround? After all, the group first promised to fix up the crumbling expanse of asphalt over a decade ago.

Tucker Reed, President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, recently argued that the Witnesses have an ethical obligation to give back to the community — to the tune of $50 million — though that figure was for local public amenities generally, not just Bridge Park II.

The Background on Bridge Park II

In 2004, the Jehovah’s Witnesses received a valuable upzoning of their property at 85 Jay Street in exchange for promising to make much-needed repairs to Bridge Park II and a path to the nearby York Street subway station.

A 2004 report from the City Planning Commission describes the agreed-upon improvements thus:

The proposed renovations would include rehabilitation of a baseball field with artificial turf and an existing playground, improving the surrounding landscaping, seating area and retaining wall and reopening a comfort station. A clearly identified, lighted path from the York Street subway station to the Farragut Houses development through the refurbished park is also proposed.

Reignited Interest in Fixing the Park

The Witnesses got the upzoning. But for more than a decade, the park remained untouched and unimproved. Only when the religious group put 85 Jay Street on the market in December — as part of their plan to relocate operations upstate — did local politicians recall the forgotten promise and ask for it to be fulfilled:

The Watchtower has said it intends to leave, and it appears that it will do so with potentially more than $1 billion in proceeds from property sales, thanks in large part to the value created by the City through the 2004 rezoning. We feel it is appropriate to suggest that now is the time to take action to leave these communities with a legacy worthy of the Watchtower.

What Will the Future Hold for Bridge Park II?

The Witnesses gave a set of plans and rough renderings to the Brooklyn Eagle on Monday, showing a skate park, grassy multi-purpose field, and children’s playground surrounded by lush landscaping.

But Bridge Park II is a tricky site, directly abutting the BQE. The Dumbo Improvement District just completed a paint installation at the park, intended to enliven the space as a fitness area. But some Brownstoner readers weren’t thrilled by the result.

Do you think $5.5 million is enough to turn Bridge Park II from drab to fab? Are the Witnesses making a generous offer? Or do you think it’s too little too late?

The religious organization stands to receive roughly $1 billion for the three properties now on the market.

[Source: Brooklyn Paper | Brooklyn Eagle]

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