The New York City Parks Department will soon begin work to overhaul the Bay Ridge Promenade, enhancing lighting, green space, and safety in the area.
The Parks Department proposed the first two parts of a multi-pronged project called “Destination: Greenways!” to Community Board 10’s Parks Committee on Oct. 23. The committee voted in support of both motions unanimously — one for an overhaul of Leif Ericson Park, and another for work on Shore Parkway, better known as the Bay Ridge or Shore Road Promenade. On Nov. 13, the full board also passed both motions unanimously.
“I’m very excited for the projects,” said CB10 district manager Josephine Beckmann. “It will truly enhance the shoreline by improving recreational cycling and adding to repairs for areas impacted by potholes.”
The Shore Park overhaul, projected to cost $20.97 million, will expand lawn space between bike and pedestrian lanes and add lighting at all promenade entrances. In areas with overpasses, amenities such as game tables, bike racks, drinking fountains, viewfinders, and seating will be installed. Accessible adult fitness areas and salt-spray-resistant trees will also be added where space allows.
The Fourth Avenue entrance will be updated with ADA-compliant ramps, a new overlook, and a sloped lawn. The project also emphasizes sustainability, with more than double the amount of permeable green space compared to the current layout.
“You know how the promenade is set up — it’s mostly concrete and asphalt with a boundary line between the bike lanes and pedestrian paths that consists of a small tree pit, then a bench, then a tree pit, a bench on repeat,” Parks Committee member Dan Hetteix told board members at the November meeting. “Big chunks of that don’t even have tree pits. The stretch from the pier to 86th Street lacks shade trees entirely right now. The new strategy is to separate the bike and pedestrian paths with a strip of actual grass and trees, not just tree pits.”
The Leif Ericson Park overhaul, projected to cost $9.25 million, will focus primarily on the park’s greenway, which residents have criticized for poor signage and rough pavement conditions. The project will repave the greenway, improve crosswalks, and add new bike racks and benches in areas currently consisting of dirt paths. The section between Fourth Avenue and Narrows Avenue, known as “Keegan’s Path” after Bay Ridge’s 1896 alderman (or City Council member), will be redesigned with new foliage.
While both motions passed unanimously, board members raised concerns about the projects. Some residents highlighted safety issues, calling for measures to prevent children from running across bike lanes from the parking lot. Others requested sanitation guidelines and increased repairs to the existing seawall. Additionally, some advocated for designated fishing zones along the waterway and more amenities for children, prioritizing them over adult fitness areas.
James Morris and Ryan Castro from the Parks Department, who initially brought designs for the two parts of the project to the committee, attended the general meeting and addressed members’ concerns. Morris noted that while the current project wouldn’t address the seawall, the department had planned future developments to help reinforce it. Castro also responded to concerns about insufficient space between bike lanes and traffic.
“We want to prioritize safety more than anything, but we’ll do our best to widen it just a little bit,” Castro said.
The board’s suggestions will be sent to the Parks Department in writing for inclusion in the final designs. The majority of the project’s funding comes from the mayor’s office, with some being allocated by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
Additional funding for the project will come from City Council Member Justin Brannan and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who are expected to join Parks Department officials for an announcement about the project on Tuesday.
The pols’ funding commitment will include more than $6.4 million for the construction of modern, accessible comfort stations at either end of Shore Road Park, and will build on ongoing efforts to invest in the Bay Ridge waterfront, according to a release.
“Our local parks are the lungs of our city,” Brannan said in a statement to Brooklyn Paper. “Shore Road Park, the Greenway, and the Promenade are some of the brightest gems of our community and for good reason. In a city where waterfront recreation is scarce enough to be precious, Shore Road Park welcomes all to enjoy and benefit from green space, wildlife, and recreation along the Narrows. Growing up, Shore Road Park was my backyard so it’s my mission to help make our local waterfront park the best it can be for generations to come.”
Gounardes agreed, adding that he ran for office in 2018 “on the promise that our community deserves a world-class waterfront just like every other neighborhood.”
“The thousands of people across Brooklyn who use the Promenade every day deserve nothing less,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be celebrating these investments and to announce the inclusion of over $6 million in state funding to build a comfort station at the north end of the park. Today, we are ensuring the Promenade and surrounding parks are built to meet all our communities’ needs and to ensure it stays safe, vibrant and resilient for generations to come.”
While a specific timeline has not been announced, Beckmann believes construction should face few hurdles, given the level of detail in the original plans.
“It will connect parkland, bicycles, amenities and beautify the area,” she said. “It’ll allow residents to enjoy the shoreline, which is just a jewel for the community.”
Update (Nov. 25, 5 p.m.): This story has been updated to include information about a press conference on the project planned by Council Member Justin Brannan and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes. The update also includes a joint statement from the officials, provided to the press after the story’s initial publication.
