From Big Apple to Big Kahuna: Plan for East River Beach Catches a Break

Brooklyn Bridge Beach, a key piece of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's “Blueway Plan” to create a continuous greenway along the East River Waterfront, is on its way to becoming a reality. “The area — 11,000 square feet at low tide — will feature sand, terraced seating, a kayak launch, a spot for fishing, tree-lined walkways and concession stands,” Erin Durkin reports, “all just minutes from Wall Street in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.”

The proposed beach site not only provides much-needed public access to the waterfront, but also storm mitigation measures through the creation of offshore salt marshes. “We’re bringing New Yorkers closer to the water, and we’re also protecting our city against future storms,” said Stringer.

“While the city will transform the land, there is not much that can be done with the polluted East River, and so the beach will lack one crucial ingredient — the ability to jump in and swim,” says Durkin. Officials hope to address this in the project's coming phases, which will require additional funding.

Brooklyn Bridge Beach is expected to be complete in three years.