Brooklyn Broadside: Columbia Street Waterfront Park, A Long Struggle To Bear Fruit

February 2, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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By Dennis Holt

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

 

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It could just as easily be called Try, Try Again Park, but that would require too much explanation. Rather, a more formal identity will have to do: Columbia Street Waterfront Park.

 

Several years ago, the city tried to replicate the public planning process that led to Brooklyn Bridge Park by coming up with plans for the waterfront between Atlantic and Hamilton avenues.

 

Located in that space is the Red Hook Container Port, which city officials originally wanted to be torn down. The hue and cry raised by that plan was like a mighty roar, however. The container port is still there, and soon there will also be a park.

 

It will run along Columbia Street between Kane and Degraw streets, will take up about 2 acres and could cost $12 million. It will not be on the water’s edge; rather, it will overlook the facility.

 

It will be a passive park featuring a dog run, bike lanes, hilly lawns, tree-lined paths and benches. It will also be part of the Brooklyn Greenway. Merchants along Columbia Street are cheering the news. City Councilman Brad Lander is on top of the park plan.

 

No one can start building anything for another year because the area is used by the city  Department of Transportation for storage.

 

Lander is confident that the money will be raised from both the public and private sectors.

 

Eventually, the park may be able to reach the water. There are hopes that sometime in the future the container port may be moved to Sunset Park, and maybe Steve Hindy of Brooklyn Brewery will finally be able to build his beer garden on Pier 7.

 

Try, try again!


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