Brooklyn Bridge Park

As NYC continues its long recovery from the ravages of Superstorm Sandy,

it has been correctly noted that much of the development taking place in the past few years in the city has been on various waterfronts.  

One of our favorites is the new Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is still a work in progress. 

Ultimately it will encompass the entire stretch from Brooklyn Heights to Dumbo. 

But even now it already has some of the finest views of the Manhattan skyline that you’ll ever see. 

Meanwhile it actually weathered the storm fairly well thanks to a design focused on sustainability

which included a wise use of Mother Nature’s tricks to avoid flooding -- pilings,

recycled granite arranged with a slow decline to allow easy access for kayaks, canoes, and ducks

bulkheads, and even plant life that can absorb extreme amounts of salt water.   

As the powers to be consider options to defend NYC against the next storm it is providing some important clues to how we might avoid so much damage in the future.

BTW, the day these photos were taken we had an earthquake.  We were actually walking on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade when it happened.  I felt the shaking and thought “Gee I can’t believe that I feel the traffic from the BQE up here!”

Ciao

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer