More Waterfront Access Coming to Greenpoint

"It wasn't so long ago," said NYC Department of City Planning Director Amanda Burden this past August 3, "that this waterfront was completely fenced off from the public and badly deteriorating."

Ms. Burden was at the groundbreaking of a new public space and pier being built by the city along the East River at the Greenpoint waterfront. Because the site used to be occupied by WNYC radio transmission towers, the future green space has been dubbed WNYC Transmitter Park.

In this photo provided by the NYC Parks & Recreation Department, VIPs big and small get the first shovels in the ground.

"Across all five boroughs we're working to bring our waterfront back to life for recreational use by New Yorkers, and WNYC Transmitter Park will be the latest, but not the last, new park we're bringing to Greenpoint," promised Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. The $12-million, 18-month redevelopment project is part of the Bloomberg Admnistration's vision of continuous public access along the Greenpoint/Williamsburg shoreline articulated in 2005 when the area was rezoned.

The design of the new waterfront park includes an unusually long pier of concrete platforms connected by aluminum bridges at the end of Kent Street. As envisioned by EDAW/McLaren Engineering Group/WXY architecture + urban design, Transmitter Park will also feature a pedestrian bridge (right) built across an excavated historic ferry slip and restored as a wetland accessible to visitors. By early 2012, look for the pier and the esplanade,as well as a large lawn, a children's play area and nature gardens.