After years of delays, new section of Bushwick Inlet Park opens on Brooklyn waterfront
City leaders held a ribbon cutting Wednesday to celebrate the expansion of Bushwick Inlet Park.
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A new section of Bushwick Inlet Park is now open along the Brooklyn waterfront after years of delays, environmental cleanup and community advocacy.
Williamsburg dad Michael Parmelee said he does not want to have to leave Brooklyn just to explore the outdoors with his family.
"Having children here, one of the things that I find to be unfortunate is that I have to drive to New Jersey to find any kind of nature," Parmelee said. "These spaces are vital to making my mood better."
Parmelee brought his kayak to the new park space on Wednesday and was ready to get on the water.
"I'm going downriver right now," Parmelee said.
City leaders held a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday to celebrate the expansion of Bushwick Inlet Park.
Because of the neighborhood's industrial past, the city spent nearly $10 million on environmental cleanup before opening the new section to the public.
"It's no secret that this process has been long and complicated," NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said.
Supporters say the opening is a major milestone, but the full vision for the park is still years away.
Three more parcels still need to be cleaned up, designed and constructed. Advocates say it could take another decade before Bushwick Inlet Park is complete.
"The community will continue fighting until the vision promised to this community for this park in 2005 is fully realized," said Katie Denny Horowitz, executive director of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance.
Council Member Lincoln Restler said about 65% of the planned park remains undeveloped.
"I'm not going to allow for us to complete this term without a firm timeline and full funding in place for this park," Restler said. “So that my successor is here to celebrate the ribbon cutting of every damn inch of Bushwick Inlet Park."
Some community members are also speaking out against the proposed Monitor Point development, which sits about 50 feet from the water's edge.
Katherine Thompson, president of Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, said building a high-rise in a flood zone is reckless.
"We are not opposed to affordable housing in our neighborhoods," Thompson said. "Rents have gone up more than 77% in the last 15 years. If the city of New York really wants to create affordability, if they want to create open space for the thousands of people, we need to preserve the Bushwick Inlet."
The City Council is expected to vote on the Monitor Point proposal on June 25.
