For Immediate Release: May 25, 2011
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK OPENS AN EXPANDED PORTION OF PIER 6 AND ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCESSIONAIRES
Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) will open an expanded section of Pier 6 parkland on Saturday, May 28th that will host four seasonal concessionaires. The new 1.8-acre section features three regulation-sized sand volleyball courts, and an expanded network of lighted pathways. The central pier pathway has been extended and is lined with park benches. In addition, a renovated building that contains park restrooms has been clad with the park’s salvaged Long Leaf Yellow Pine. The pier will feature 15,000 square feet of lawns and will be planted with a diverse array of native plants and trees, most notably Sassafras, Bald Cypress and Chestnut Oak trees as well as Sweetfern, Sumac and Serviceberry shrubs.
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation Chair Robert K. Steel said “The opening of this newest section of Brooklyn Bridge Park demonstrates the commitment of the Administration to a revitalized waterfront. Pier 6 now offers even more reasons to get to the park this summer and its free weekend ferry link with Governors Island offers New Yorkers and visitors alike a great connection to the wonders of the harbor.”
“Pier 6 now offers expanded amenities and recreational options for all types of park users,” said Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “We welcome four superb Brooklyn-based concessionaires to the pier this summer and are thrilled that they will activate the newly-expanded space with a great array of refreshments for park visitors.”
The four summer concessionaires selected for Pier 6 during the 2011 summer season will operate in a newly-constructed plaza space with tables, chairs and umbrellas to create an outdoor food court. Beer and wine will be served on the roof deck of the restored building starting in mid-June. The concessionaires will operate on weekends and holidays from approximately 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.
New additions to Pier 6 include Milk Truck, best known for its grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes, which will serve these specialties and other refreshments from a tent in the plaza. Also new to the park is Bark, a Brooklyn-based hot dog restaurant in Park Slope. Bark will also be located in the plaza and will sell their classic dog and veggie dogs, burgers and beverages. Starting in mid-June, Bark will operate on the roof deck of the concession building on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until midnight and serve beer and wine with their menu.
Returning Brooklyn-based concessions include Blue Marble Ice Cream, serving organic ice cream, and Uncle Louie G’s Italian Ices with their delicious selection of ices, both sold from a mobile cart in the plaza. The park also welcomes back its four concessionaires operating on Pier 1: Blue Marble Ice Cream, Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar, Calexico Carne Asada and Ditch Plains Drop-In.
May 28th also marks the return of the free Governors Island ferry service, which will operate from Pier 6 on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays through September 25th.
Construction continues on Jane’s Carousel and the Empire Fulton Ferry portion of the park, which will reopen to the public later this summer. Jane’s Carousel, a beautifully restored 1922 carousel, has been donated to the park by David and Jane Walentas and will be housed in an all-weather glass and steel pavilion designed by Jean Nouvel. Empire Fulton Ferry renovations include the addition of lighting to the pier, a picnic grove, an expanded lawn, new plantings and trees and a new entrance at Dock Street.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park, is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park stretching 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. The park was designed by the award-winning firm of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. More information is available on the park’s website: bbpprod2020.wpengine.com.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the nine waterfront destinations that comprise NYHarborWay, an initiative of the Bloomberg Administration to make the New York Harbor a major recreational destination for New Yorkers and visitors. Spearheaded by NYC & Company, the initiative eventually will connect the nine major waterfront points of interest by ferry or bike greenways. In addition, NYHarborWay will develop a cohesive programming, marketing and communications platform which will drive visitation to the nine waterfront sites. In addition to Brooklyn Bridge Park, the destinations are Governors Island, Hudson River Park, The Battery, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Atlantic Basin, the East River Esplanade and Liberty State Park.