Pedestrian Bridge Nears Completion, and More Morning Walk Photos

By on January 22, 2013 11:19 pm in brooklyn bridge park, Photos

As seen during my walk on Saturday morning, the all wooden pedestrian bridge that will connect Columbia Heights and Squibb Park to Brooklyn Bridge Park has its sections completely in place, though guardrails are still being installed. We look forward to walking it once it has been opened. More photos and text follow the jump.

Geese on the lawn at Pier 1, Brooklyn bridge Park.

Spartina grass and pilings at the south end of Pier 1.

Ms. and Mr. Duck paddling between Piers 1 and 2.

The lower Manhattan skyline, through dry and bare vegetation, near Pier 2.

Hubert Bays pushes a barge past Manhattan’s historic Battery Maritime Building (Walker & Morris, 1909), seen from Pier 5.

Also viewed from Pier 5, Red Hook’s giant gantry cranes lift containers of bananas from Ecuadorian Lines’ ship Charles Island.

Soccer practice on Pier 5’s playing field.

Share this Story:

, , , , , , , , , , ,

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    When is the bridge scheduled to open?

  • Andrew Porter

    When they talked about erecting the bridge, it was supposed to be finished in literally a few days. Wonder why that schedule was so shockingly wrong?

    I’m unhappy to see Canada Geese on the lawn. They are prodigious poopers, cranking out a quarter of their weight in feces every day, which then lies on the grass until you sit or walk on it. Hopefully the stuff will decompose by the warmer weather.

    There’s also another reason Canada Geese are unwelcome in NYC. Ask Sully Sullenbarger why.

  • Claude Scales

    The Park’s website doesn’t have a date for the opening of the bridge. As soon as it’s announced, we’ll post it.

  • Eye In The Sky

    Interesting that no one has commented on the terminal point for this bridge, up in a concealed playground. This playground has been kept closed for years because it was an extremely unsafe spot, i.e., dark, way below the street level, therefor providing very little visibility; even if you were accosted and screamed, the thunderous din of the traffic on the adjacent BQE would drown you out, etc. I am curious to see how our park planners intent to address this very real threat. It is a potential haven for drug use, hanging out by n’er-do-wells, criminal activity, etc. Thoughts?

  • Cranberry Beret

    The park was open for several years recently (before the current construction started) and as far as I know, none of these bad threats occurred. When the city is crime-ridden, it happens everywhere. I don’t see any particular reason to design for a bunker mentality. I believe the main reason Squibb had been closed was lack of maintenance, which after the skate-park elements were added, was addressed and then it re-opened.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Crime has dropped considerably since Squibb Park was closed. I don’t even think safety was the reason for its closure, I seem to remember something about the ramps being too steep (exceeding the maximum allowable slope of 1 inch per foot). That problem has been corrected. They will likely add lighting, a feature completely lacking in the former park.
    Also, there will now be a second exit and it will undoubtedly be patrolled by BBP security. All in all, it shouldn’t be significantly more dangerous than the surrounding area.

  • MonroeOrange

    I remember as a child in the 80’s this was a very dangerous park, though it was a very different time. I remember it being safe in the day and going to the sprinklers there, but at night, it was definitely not a safe place to be. Though I agree with what others said, back when NYC had much more crime it was dangerous..now it will be mostly St. George Dorm kids smoking and drinking there i imagine.

    Will the park bridge be open 24hours?

  • Mr. Crusty

    Any evidence of this “very real threat”?

  • Mr. Crusty

    Huh? Who said it would be completed in a couple of days?

  • Andrew Porter

    They did, originally. Erected on a Thursday and Friday, finished over the weekend, open the following week.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Wow, well I guess that was a bit optimistic wasn’t it?