Brooklyn Bridge Park ConservancyBrooklyn, N.Y. — Every year, Brooklyn Bridge Park welcomes over 5 million visitors, with thousands coming to enjoy Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s free, public programs in the Park. After a challenging 2020, Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (Conservancy) are excited to announce the launch of a rich season of programming. Without ever having to leave New York City, visitors and locals alike can take part in an enriching season of arts and culture, fitness, recreation, environmental education, and volunteer opportunities from May to October — watch music and dance performers rehearse under the Manhattan skyline at the Conservancy’s Open Studios Residency, move to an outdoor Waterfront Workout with a top-tier fitness instructor, listen to a sunset reading with a favorite poet at Books Beneath the Bridge, launch for a kayaking excursion onto the East River, and more.

All events and activities in the Park will strictly adhere to the City’s guidance on COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols. Please note that advanced registration is required for most programs, with a limited number of walk-up spots available. Please see brooklynbridgepark.org for more detailed information.

Notable and new programs are highlighted below, with many events still to come. Please check Brooklyn Bridge Park’s event calendar for new event announcements added regularly.

BBP welcomes back concessions for the summer season: Fornino, Pilot, OddFellows Ice Cream Co., Luke’s Lobster, Lizzmonade, and Ample Hills. This year BBP welcomes a new concession at Fulton Ferry Landing, Marine Co. 7, a seafood bar and restaurant that will eventually include seating on a restored fire boat. The Roller Rink at Pier 2 and the Cliff’s at DUMBO are open for the summer season. 

Construction in the Park continues as the final section of parkland is underway at the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge. This final space, set to open in winter 2021, will connect the northern piers to the southern piers and complete the Park as originally conceived. The Pier 2 Uplands, which opened July 2020 will again welcome visitors to the water spray area and open lawn. Smaller improvements throughout the Park continue; new exercise equipment at Pier 2 just opened.

ARTS & CULTURE

Cultural programming this season will include brand new family-friendly and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-centered events, as well as the return of yearly favorites like the annual Hindu Lamp Ceremony, the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, and a shortened run of the Movies With A View series. Books Beneath the Bridge will return in August on Monday evenings featuring authors curated by Brooklyn’s foremost local bookstores. This year is presented in partnership with Books Are Magic, Café con Libros, Freebird Books, and Mil Mundos.

After a limited weekend launch in 2020, the Conservancy’s new Open Studios Residency has returned in an expanded format, featuring two artists-in-residence Fogo Azul NYC and Oyo Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble. The public is invited to view open-air rehearsals, every other Sunday beginning April 18 from 10:00am-2:00pm to get a unique window inside the creative process, while enjoying live performing arts activating Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Residency culminates on Sunday, July 11 with both companies premiering their original works developed for the Park at Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn. 

 

On Saturday, May 29, the Conservancy is partnering with BAM’s DanceAfrica Festival to co-present a free community workshop for all ages on Pier 6 Liberty Lawn. Veteran traditional Haitian dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist Nadia Dieudonné will guide families through the fundamentals of Haitian movement and music at this fun-filled, family-friendly event.

 

The Conservancy will celebrate the kickoff of summer on Sunday, June 13 at the first-ever Brass Bands Festival in the Park co-produced by local favorites, L Train Brass Band. Come enjoy live roving and stationary musical sets by a diverse and energetic range of NYC’s brass band community. New Orleans’ second-line style processionals welcome the public across multiple lawns and plazas for an interactive and self-guided performance at various locations from Pier 3 to Pier 5.

 

Summer Reading Storytime with Brooklyn Public Library returns in-person starting Wednesday, May 19 and will run every other week, switching between the Pier 3 Greenway Terrace and John Street Lawn locations of the Park! The first event will take place at Pier 3 Greenway Terrace. Recommended for ages 2-7, librarians from the Brooklyn Heights and Annex branches will read stories they love to share – all with a stunning view of the waterfront!

 

On Friday evenings, NY PopsUp, a collection of live musical pop-up performances, will find a stage in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Locations will be announced the day of and will be situated in different areas of the Park each week. Shows run through the month of May and a final show will be held in August.

Public Art Fund this summer will bring Claudia Wieser’s first outdoor public artwork, a grouping of large scale geometric structures that the public can immerse in and explore. The piece will be on display opening in July at the Main Street entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Darmstadt, a Brooklyn-based classical music ensemble, will perform a version of Terry Riley's masterpiece of minimalism, "In C," as part of Make Music New York’s citywide festival of free, walk-up, modestly-scaled outdoor concerts taking place on Monday, June 21st.

The FENCE, by Photoville, returns to BBP for another season to display the work of talented photographers from around the world in sections throughout the Park. Photoville’s large photography festival exhibit will return for its 10th year this fall.

Keep your eye out for more arts and culture events announced soon, including a BIPOC curated series, family festivals, waterfront dance, live music, theater performances, and more.


FITNESS & RECREATION

From May through October, the Conservancy will host a broad range of free weekly Waterfront Workouts with top-notch instructors from local partners Abhaya Yoga, Chelsea Piers Fitness, and Dodge YMCA. Participants can choose from morning Vinyasa Yoga, Sunset Yoga, Amp'd Bootcamp, Pilates, Zumba, and a brand new Family Fitness class in Brooklyn Bridge Park's unbeatable outdoor setting. Advanced registration is required and opens every Tuesday at 10:00am for the following week of fitness classes.

Monday:
Zumba with Dodge YMCA, Weekly, May 3-October 25, 6:00-7:00pm, Pier 2 Ping Pong Table area

Tuesday:
Sunset Yoga with Abhaya Yoga, Weekly, May 4-October 26, 6:00-7:00pm, Pier 3 Lawn

Thursday:
Amp’d Bootcamp with Chelsea Piers Fitness, Weekly, May 6-October 28, 6:00-7:00pm, Pier 2 Sports Turf

Friday:
Pilates with Dodge YMCA, Weekly, May 7-October 29, 8:30am-9:30am, Pier 6 Lawn

Sunday:
Vinyasa Yoga with Chelsea Piers Fitness, Weekly, May 9-October 24, 10:00am-11:00am, Pier 6 Lawn

Family Fitness with Chelsea Piers Fitness, Once a Month, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, 12:00pm-12:45pm, Pier 6 Lawn

In addition to Waterfront Workouts, a season in Brooklyn Bridge Park wouldn’t be complete without the popular Walk-Up Kayaking program presented by the Conservancy and Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. Visitors will launch from the Pier 4 beach and glide along the East River starting in June on Wednesdays from 4-8pm through the end of August, and Saturdays from 10am-4pm through the end of September.

The Conservancy’s Adult Summer Soccer League will run from June 9-August 11, with weekly games on Wednesday evenings. Participants can sign up for the Men’s team, Co-ed team, or sign up to be a free agent. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, in partnership with Big City Volleyball, will welcome back Volleyball Leagues this May through October. The league is 6v6, with games on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and tournaments on select Saturdays. 

Additional fitness and recreation to be announced include the return of Double Dutch and Youth Basketball Clinics.

 
EDUCATION

The Conservancy hopes to reopen the Environmental Education Center to the public in September — in the meantime, families and students can learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, the plants and animals of the East River estuary, and the ecology and design of Brooklyn Bridge Park through monthly educational themes featuring virtual Open Hours, online learning units, self-led outdoor activities like monthly Scavenger Hunts, virtual nature and wildlife workshops, and field trips (both in-person and virtual).

In addition, our Environmental Education team will present in-person Public Seining and Citizen Science Fishing Clinics this summer for the public to explore and learn about the wildlife of the East River estuary ecosystem. Stay tuned for exact dates and times coming soon.

Journey to the Stars will return on select Fridays June through August. Amateur Astronomers of New York City will set up hi-powered telescopes along the Pier 1 promenade for participants to enjoy the wonders of the universe and have a rare chance to view select stars and planets from NYC.

Finally, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is excited to be partnering with Trail Blazers to offer a brand new summer day camp in Brooklyn Bridge Park running from July through August. Campers will develop an appreciation for nature and the environment, while making memories to last a lifetime, through hands-on education, waterfront adventures, nature activities, and play. Participants can choose to attend the full program or pick and choose individual weeks.

VOLUNTEER

Throughout the season, volunteers can give back to the community on Saturday mornings, May 29 through October 30, at Green Team and Coastal Cleanups. Green Team offers nature enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about gardening and horticulture, while Coastal Cleanups will allow visitors to help keep the Park’s shorelines clean and beautiful. 

For teenagers looking to complete community service hours, the Conservancy is excited to offer two additional sessions of the increasingly popular TIDES (Teens Interested in and Dedicated to Environmental Sciences) program this summer and fall. TIDES provides an opportunity for teenagers to learn about ecology, conservation, and environmental sustainability, while completing hands-on activities in the Park.

Waterfront Walks kick off on select Sundays starting on May 9 and run through the end of October. Traverse the Park’s beautiful landscape on an immersive tour with Conservancy docents and learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, how the Park came to life, and BBP’s sustainable design.

 

“Through the pandemic the Park never stopped operating and offering outdoor space to New Yorkers during an unprecedented time. We are honored to be able to provide this critical outdoor space as a respite during this extremely difficult year,” said Eric Landau, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “We look forward to another summer season when all can enjoy the Park and the amazing events and programs.  Thanks to Nancy Webster and everyone at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for being such incredible partners and providing such a fantastic array of programs this and every season.”

"We hope to see you out kayaking, at a dance performance, handling a fishing rod, or enjoying any number of the free events and activities in the Park this summer," said Nancy Webster, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. "Parks and open space have been more important than ever during this time of COVID restrictions, and we are excited to present a vibrant mix of cultural, educational, and recreational programs for Brooklyn Bridge Park visitors."

For upcoming event listings visit brooklynbridgepark.org/events.

ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP), is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park spanning 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. As steward of the park, BBP has transformed this previously deteriorated stretch of waterfront into a world-class park where the public can gather, play, relax and enjoy sweeping views of New York Harbor. The self-sustaining park was designed by the award-winning firm of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and features expansive lawns, rolling hills, waterfront promenades, innovative playgrounds, a greenway, sports facilities and the popular Jane’s Carousel. BBP serves thousands of people on any given seasonal day, who come to picnic, walk their dog, play soccer, jog, bike or roller skate. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a signature public investment for the 21st Century and will be an enduring legacy for the communities, elected officials and public servants who made it happen.
 

ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK CONSERVANCY

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy has worked for over 35 years to bring Brooklyn Bridge Park to life. We started out as grassroots advocates, bringing together residents, government, and local supporters to transform an abandoned waterfront into the park you see today. Now an essential supporter, the Conservancy works in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park to ensure that the Park reaches its full potential as a dynamic and vibrant public space for all of Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond. With your help, the Conservancy produces diverse and innovative programming for Park visitors and cultivates volunteer and philanthropic support of this special place on the Brooklyn waterfront. Since 2000, more than 1,800,000 visitors have enjoyed the Conservancy’s free, public programs in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
 

Twitter:    @BBPNYC
Instagram:    @BrooklynBridgePark
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooklynbridgepark

 

PRESS CONTACTS
SARAH KRAUSS / skrauss@bbp.nyc
KATHERINE GRAY / (650) 380-0572, kgray@brooklynbridgepark.org