Brooklyn Bridge Park Making Progress Despite Budget Woes

Last week Mayor Bloomberg admitted he was working out a deal to take over from the state two major park projects on Governors Island and Brooklyn Bridge Park; the latter is an ambitious, 85-acre park that would stretch 1.3 miles from the north side of the Manhattan Bridge to Atlantic Avenue. The renderings look great, but the project has been hobbled in part because the state hasn't committed the money, leaving a budget shortfall of some $120 million. But some sections of the development are actually moving forward: Last night Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation President Regina Myer told Community Board 2 that the southern section of the park at Pier 6 will be open by the end of the year. According to Brooklyn Heights Blog, Meyer promised three sand volleyball courts, a huge playground, a dog run, lots of trees, and a restaurant. The remainder of the pier—including the water taxi dock—is not yet funded, but the rest of the park on Pier 6 will supposedly be a finished... just in time for winter!