Seven acres of parkland to open under new Kosciuszko Bridge in Greenpoint
As the second and final span of the new Kosciuszko Bridge opens this week, the state announced it is handing over seven acres of land under the Brooklyn side of the bridge in Greenpoint. The land parcel â along with $6 million in state funding â will help create brand new parkland featuring recreational space, public artwork, concerts and other cultural events.
The community endured nearly 80 years of traffic jams on the old narrow bridge that connected Brooklyn to Queens over Newtown Creek and five years of construction on the new spans, so as a reward, âUnder the Kâ will begin programming by the summer of 2020.
âWe are learning that as we build our infrastructure, we can add beauty and open space in new and refreshing ways,â said Assemblymember Joe Lentol, who pushed for the park to be coupled with the bridge construction. âThis investment is going to have a lasting impact on our community. Itâs not going to be just a bridge anymore, itâs going to be more than that.â
Before the land under the bridge was handed over by the state Department of Transportation, it would have likely been used for DOT storage, according to the governor. Instead, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance will lead the design and construction of the new green space.