Explore Local Greenspace at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Over 100,000 cars travel on the Brooklyn Bridge every day. But below, on the East River, lies the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park. This public park’s award-winning piers host top-notch recreation, from opera to outdoor films. It is also home to a patchwork of gardens and ecosystems. Take advantage of the warm summer weather and explore this local greenspace.

The Park has native woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and numerous meadows. These areas closely echo native ecosystems and are managed with an emphasis on wildlife habitat. The garden beds define views, block wind, and provide shade. Their flowers, berries, and beds provide habitat for native bees, butterflies, and migratory birds.

Many of the design choices that went into creating Brooklyn Bridge Park have considered climate change and climate resilience. These include plant selection, planting strategies, and infrastructure design.

The gardens at Brooklyn Bridge Park are managed organically to protect the environment in the Park and the water around it. They actively capture and recirculate rainwater for irrigation, practice organic pest management, and use compost for the soil. The design and stewardship of the staff ensure the absence of chemicals and the inclusion of native plants to provide a healthy environment for visitors, as well as birds, butterflies, ladybugs, turtles, and even the microscopic soil organisms that keep plants happy.

For those interested in learning about and exploring the Park more deeply than the average visitor, there is the Environmental Education Center. Located at 99 Plymouth Street in DUMBO, this year-round space is the home base to a thriving education program that serves over 10,000 school children each year and visitors of all ages.

The Center offers rotating monthly educational themes, a 250-gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, and a 10’ scale model of Brooklyn Bridge Park. It also offers crafts, a reading corner, and a self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Center’s free open Hours are Thursdays 3 - 5 p.m., Fridays 3 - 5 p.m., and Saturdays 1 - 5 p.m.

For birders, the park is home to several species of interest, including wading birds, shore birds, and other waterfowl. The salt marsh on Pier 1, the meadow on Pier 6, and natural habitats on Pier 4 are particular areas of interest. While you are at it, take a moment to take in over 12,000 species of plants and wildlife. But wherever you look in the park, you cannot go wrong, as it is designed to minimize human impact on new habitats.

The Horticultural Program is extensive and never at rest. This is an excellent resource for New Yorkers to learn about and explore the world of greenspace in one of the world’s greatest urban centers. Broadway Stages encourages you to take advantage of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, gardens, and horticultural program this summer and all year long.