City Completes Acquisition of Final Parcel of Bushwick Inlet Park

April 19, 2017

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today announced that the City has closed on the acquisition of the CitiStorage site, which is a major step forward in completing Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn. In December, the City announced that it would acquire the $160-million, 11-acre parcel of land, allowing for the completion of the 27-acre park. The property was sold to the City of New York.  The former owner deeded it to the City, officially transferring the title.

“Today’s acquisition is proof positive that we keep our promises,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We are one step closer to realizing the vision of the completed Bushwick Inlet Park North Brooklyn deserves.” 

"Already well-loved and well-used by Brooklynites, Bushwick Inlet Park is on its way to becoming one of Williamsburg-Greenpoint’s most recognizable places,” said Parks Commissioner Silver. “NYC Parks looks forward to collaborating with park users to build an expansion that truly serves this growing community."

"Our fully realized Bushwick Inlet Park will be a transformative open space, making Greenpoint and Williamsburg safer places to raise healthy children and families. I am proud to be part of a excited and victorious community of advocates and residents who fought for the completion of this park, and I am even prouder to have contributed $1 million toward this acquisition of this final parcel," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

"Bushwick Inlet Park was a promise made, and now we are another step closer to it being a promise kept," said State Senator Daniel Squadron. "We're on our way to a world-class park on the Greenpoint and Williamsburg waterfront – our Harbor Park, a Central Park for the center of our city. Thank you to Commissioner Silver and the Parks Department, Councilmember Levin, Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, the City, Assemblymember Lentol, my colleagues in government, as well as CB1, NAG, OSA, and all the community members who made this possible."

“Through the ups and downs, I never doubted that the acquisition of the final parcel to complete Bushwick Inlet Park would happen. It was a group effort of persistence and community pressure. While the promise to build this park was made over a decade ago and the completion is a few years out, I know that Bushwick Inlet Park will be the shining star of the 2005 rezoning. I applaud both Norm Brodsky and Mayor Bill de Blasio for making this park a reality. I also would like to thank Commissioner Mitchell Silver in advance for his leadership in developing this great park,” said Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol.

“This is the moment the community has been waiting for,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “We’ve waited 11 years, and soon we will get 11 acres of new park right here in Brooklyn. I’m confident Parks, in close coordination with the community, will transform this parcel into an enduring and beloved fixture for all to enjoy. I applaud the administration for their leadership in sealing the deal, and I know generations will benefit from our collective commitment to open spaces.”

“On a per capita basis, Brooklyn Community Board 1 has one of the city’s lowest ratios of open space. Since the 2005 rezoning our community has added tens of thousands of new residents, but the creation of new open space has not kept pace with the influx of new people. We are highly pleased that the Administration finally lived up to its promises and acquired the parcels that comprised the CitiStorage site. With the NYC Parks now leading the charge, we can begin moving forward to make this park a true reality,” said Brooklyn Community Board 1 Chair Dealice Fuller.

The immediate next step for the park is to investigate environmental remediation needs at the CitiStorage site. This will help to determine a timeline for the development of the site.
                       
The CitiStorage site is one of six parcels that make up Bushwick Inlet Park, the centerpiece of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront. Already, 3.5 acres of the park are complete and open to the public, featuring a multi-purpose field and a building for community activities with a state-of-the-art green roof which doubles as a seating area. This park incorporates natural and urban structures, bringing Greenpoint's waterfront and natural areas into the community around it. Visitors can admire the views or use the park's facilities for active recreation.

The remaining four parcels of land have all been purchased by the City, and are in varying stages of remediation and development.