Future for Pearl Street Triangle unveiled at 10th anniversary party

August 15, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

A young girl takes her shot at hitting the DUMBO BID piñata at The Pearl Street Triangle. Photos by Gabriella Bass

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On Thursday, hundreds of DUMBO residents and Brooklynites from across the borough came out to celebrate the Pearl Street Triangle’s 10th anniversary. The crowd included mix of workers on their lunch break, families, small business owners, DUMBO BID board members and others.

The celebration included free treats from local businesses and children’s party games with chances to win various prizes, as well as a sneak peek of the upgrades planned for the Triangle.

Alexandria Sica, executive director of the DUMBO BID, led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” just before a Piñata hand-crafted by Cara Lee Sperry (owner of Superfine on Pearl Street) to look like the Pearl Street Triangle was broken open.

“The Pearl Street Triangle has been transformative for DUMBO,” said Sica. “It’s our community center; and today, along with the Archway, we have a very local piazza, where neighbors and co-workers gather off the tourist grid in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge.

“The Pearl Street Triangle was the original test case for the City’s Plaza Program, and it continues to be a test space for DUMBO start-ups and artists who put on light shows, launch their inventions and share their work with the neighborhood,” Sica continued. “It’s the little parking triangle that could; just some tables, chairs and cans of paint and you can create community! Restaurants, a flower shop, toy shop and a kids’ store now all find their home in the area, making Pearl Street a thriving zone for small, independent shops.”

The penultimate whack to the piñata came from longtime 100 Jay St. resident and artist Eleanor Kupencow. Kupencow’s sculptures were among the first public art works installed in the Triangle in 2009.

Music at the party was provided by DJ Kai Song, the 13-year-old DJ who played the original opening party in 2007 (when he was 3!).

The Pearl Street Triangle was the first plaza the Department of Transportation created. Jeanette Sadik Khan announced the NYC Plaza Program at the opening on Aug. 10, 2007.

Now there are dozens of plazas in Brooklyn, including three in DUMBO (Pearl Street Triangle, the Archway and Old Fulton).