NEW YORK—Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park will soon transform into the site of a new dock for a three-minute water taxi that will operate between the Park and Governors Island.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC), with $1 million funding from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and a $400,000 grant from City Council pledged by Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn), has begun the development. The former cargo pier will be completed for ferry service in the summer of 2010, announced BBPDC officials on Wednesday at a press conference at the location.
“It’s a good news that the Bridge Brooklyn Park will be easily accessible to Governors Island. We need all the open space that we can visit. This makes it easy and convenient for Brooklynites,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in an interview.
According to Elizabeth Rapuano, director of Marketing and Communications of Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), the number of visitors increased from 8,000 in 2005 to 128,000 in 2008. So far this summer, Governors Island has received more than 90,000 visitors, as compared to 40,000 this time last year.
“We currently have about one fourth of our visitors come from Brooklyn already. We have service from Fulton Ferry Landing and this dock will cut that service [time] in half, because it’s so much closer. We welcome people from all boroughs and visitors to New York. It really is an exciting moment in 2009 for Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, GIPEC president.
The historic Governors Island was home to the U.S. Army and Coast Guard for almost two centuries. In 1995, the Coast Guard closed its facilities on Governors Island and a year later, all residents were relocated. In 2003, the federal government sold most of the island to New Yorkers through the GIPEC, which continues to operate and redevelop the island.
Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer said that she will try to work with GIPEC to make the taxis to Governor’s Island free.
Murray Adams, former president of Cobble Hill Association, a civic association which represents the interest of residents of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, offered input from his community.
“We’ve wanted this for a long time. We got to plan this whole thing around the waterfront. And this water taxi is a good start on that planning, so we can get around the harbor by water. So it’s very good,” Adams said.
Lisa Willner, spokeswoman of BBPDC, said that the new water taxi service will replace the current free Saturday-only ferry from Fulton Ferry Landing to Governors Island.
The new dock will include seven acres of new park, containing a 1.6 acre playground with water play areas, two sand volleyball courts and a dog run. Visitors will be able to take a peek at the first open sections of the park—Pier 1 and Pier 6—later this winter.
BBPDC hosts an open tour of the site every Tuesday evening in August. Please visit www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org to learn more or RSVP.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC), with $1 million funding from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and a $400,000 grant from City Council pledged by Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn), has begun the development. The former cargo pier will be completed for ferry service in the summer of 2010, announced BBPDC officials on Wednesday at a press conference at the location.
“It’s a good news that the Bridge Brooklyn Park will be easily accessible to Governors Island. We need all the open space that we can visit. This makes it easy and convenient for Brooklynites,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in an interview.
According to Elizabeth Rapuano, director of Marketing and Communications of Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), the number of visitors increased from 8,000 in 2005 to 128,000 in 2008. So far this summer, Governors Island has received more than 90,000 visitors, as compared to 40,000 this time last year.
“We currently have about one fourth of our visitors come from Brooklyn already. We have service from Fulton Ferry Landing and this dock will cut that service [time] in half, because it’s so much closer. We welcome people from all boroughs and visitors to New York. It really is an exciting moment in 2009 for Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, GIPEC president.
The historic Governors Island was home to the U.S. Army and Coast Guard for almost two centuries. In 1995, the Coast Guard closed its facilities on Governors Island and a year later, all residents were relocated. In 2003, the federal government sold most of the island to New Yorkers through the GIPEC, which continues to operate and redevelop the island.
Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer said that she will try to work with GIPEC to make the taxis to Governor’s Island free.
Murray Adams, former president of Cobble Hill Association, a civic association which represents the interest of residents of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, offered input from his community.
“We’ve wanted this for a long time. We got to plan this whole thing around the waterfront. And this water taxi is a good start on that planning, so we can get around the harbor by water. So it’s very good,” Adams said.
Lisa Willner, spokeswoman of BBPDC, said that the new water taxi service will replace the current free Saturday-only ferry from Fulton Ferry Landing to Governors Island.
The new dock will include seven acres of new park, containing a 1.6 acre playground with water play areas, two sand volleyball courts and a dog run. Visitors will be able to take a peek at the first open sections of the park—Pier 1 and Pier 6—later this winter.
BBPDC hosts an open tour of the site every Tuesday evening in August. Please visit www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org to learn more or RSVP.
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