New York, NY – City officials announced a $7 million plan Thursday to turn a trash-strewn strip of sand on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge into a beach with a kayak launch, concessions stands and terraced seating for enjoying the view.
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The so-called Brooklyn Bridge Beach may also include wading or swimming pools that use filtered water, because the East River itself is not clean enough to swim in.
“It’s going to be a beautiful, beautiful part of the city,” said Borough President Scott Stringer, who joined City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other elected officials to outline plans for the new waterfront attraction. “This is an amazing opportunity to do great things in this city.”
The site itself, now littered with washed-up debris and broken bottles, served as a backdrop to the news conference under the bridge.
The plan would involve adding enough sand to create 11,000 square feet of beach area at low tide.
Officials said that despite the destruction visited on waterfront neighborhoods by Superstorm Sandy last October, New York City must not turn its back on the water.
“Our rivers are part of what set us on the path to being the greatest city in the world,” said Quinn, who is running for mayor. “We’re now reclaiming those.”
Quinn said the added sand, along with newly introduced salt marsh plants, will not only provide recreational opportunities but will help protect Manhattan from future storms.
“We’re a river city, and Mother Nature can be tough,” Quinn said “So we’re going to use our open space as effectively as we can, not just for recreation but also for protection.”
The new beach is part of a larger plan to open up Manhattan’s East River waterfront from the South Street Seaport to midtown.
That plan, called East River Blueway, is modeled on the Hudson River Park that has been developed in stages on Manhattan’s West Side. The recently opened Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn side of the famous span is also a precedent.
“From the new Brooklyn Bridge Park to running, biking or even trapezing on the Hudson River, we have a lot to be jealous of around here,” City Council member Daniel Garodnick said.
Another boat launch is planned for Stuyvesant Cove, on the East River around 20th Street in Garodnick’s district.
Stringer and Quinn secured the $7 million for the new beach, but developing the entire stretch of East Side riverfront would take additional state and federal funds.
The beach project is expected to take about three years to complete.
What a COMPLETE & utter waste of taxpayer money! Imagine blowing money like this for a beach that can’t be used for swimming because the water is too polluted??!!
MORONS!!!
I’m biased in that I don’t care much for beaches. But I have some serious hesitations about this project. Perhaps we should place some resources first in creating a mentality that exists in other cities where garbage is not strewn around, and public areas are cherished. The public trash cans attract little, as it is almost universal that garbage is thrown onto streets. That’s why we’re stuck with the weekly curse of alternate side no parking. I’ve been to other cities where sidewalks and streets are spit-spot clean. Public areas are not taken for granted, and those who use them clean up after themselves. I also say, with great pain, that Acheinu Beis Yisroel are no better than others with regards to keeping the streets clean. From giving babies in carriages things which are later left around on the sidewalks, to the casual throwing of coffee cups, cigarette butts anywhere and everywhere, we have lots to learn about public decency.
Maybe a public relations campaign for a lot less that creates the climate of “Our streets are not garbage cans” might accomplish much more.
There are pleanty of kaykak programs on the west side some are even free!!!! All i can say that they are a bunch of alteh kayakers.
What a great idea! The rental income from the concessions and entry fees will more than make up the cost and it will help beautify the city
How about shoring up the bridge first to make it safe???