Mayor de Blasio Allocates $17.5M for Development of Bushwick Inlet Park

October 31, 2017

Allocation allows crucial renovation of two parcels of parkland and further the development of Bushwick Inlet Park

NEW YORK—The de Blasio administration and NYC Parks today celebrated the recently-announced allocation of $17.5 million from Mayor Bill de Blasio for the development and remediation of two parcels of parkland at Bushwick Inlet Park in North Brooklyn. As 50 Kent has already undergone remediation, the allocated $7.7 million will go toward developing the site into a new park. The remaining $9.8 million will go toward the remediation and development of the Motiva site. Parks will begin designing this park with the community in the spring.

“We kept a promise to North Brooklyn by purchasing the final parcel of Bushwick Inlet Park, and this additional funding will allow the City to move closer to realizing the vision of a fully-developed waterfront park with beautiful views and amenities to match,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

In December 2016, the City announced $160-million purchase of the former CitiStorage site which completes acquisition of the final parcel of land in Bushwick Inlet Park. 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 Williamsburg’s waterfront and natural areas into the community around it. Visitors can admire the views or use the park's facilities for active recreation. This additional funding will bring will allow for public use of an additional 3.6 acres of parkland. 

"Great communities are built around great parks, which is why we are so excited by Mayor de Blasio’s continued efforts to complete Bushwick Inlet Park, one of Brooklyn's newest, growing public spaces,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. “We look forward to working with our community partners to realize a vision for Bushwick Inlet Park that truly serves North Brooklyn."
  
“Bushwick Inlet Park will soon become a world-class treasure for Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and all of Brooklyn as a green space everyone can enjoy. I commend Mayor de Blasio, Parks Commissioner Silver, and Council Member Levin for their collaborative partnership on making this park possible,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “I’m particularly proud to have allocated $1 million in capital investment toward making this dream come alive. These kinds of open spaces are an important part of our borough’s physical fabric, weaving together communities and peoples from all walks of life under the tree of One Brooklyn.”

“This community is one of the fastest growing in the city, and is in desperate need of more open space,” said U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney. “Thanks to the $17.5 million allocation from Mayor de Blasio, Bushwick Inlet Park now has the funding it needs to complete two major portions of the project and bring our dream closer to a reality. When it is complete, I think it will be one of the most beautiful parks in the city, and it will serve our community for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the construction begin, and cannot wait to see the final product. Thank you to Mayor de Blasio for his continued commitment to Bushwick Inlet Park.”

“We’re down to what matters at Bushwick Inlet Park. Many passionate people got this to where it is today. And where it has stopped short in the past, today Mayor de Blasio and Councilmember Levin, are ensuring the parks completion. I sincerely thank them, and everyone that got us here,” said State Senator Martin Malavé Dilan.

“Open space is essential to a New Yorker’s quality of life. We have fortunately made great strides, on the state and city level, to increase the amount of open space in North Brooklyn and this announcement is yet another step in the right direction,” said Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol. “I look forward to the completion of Bushwick Inlet Park because I know how important it is to this community. I applaud Mayor de Blasio, Parks Commissioner Silver, Council Member Levin, and Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park for their tireless advocacy for North Brooklyn’s open space.” 

“It’s not every day that good news is followed by even more good news,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “Like so many others in the community, I was overjoyed when our Mayor announced the acquisition of land to complete Bushwick Inlet Park. With this next move, full funding to build the park, we are closer than ever before to fulfilling a longstanding need in the community.  Don’t forget, this is your park, so I want everyone to be engaged in the planning process. Thank you, Mayor de Blasio, for making the North Brooklyn community whole once again.”