East River State Park: 'From Public Process To Public Space'
Brooklyn, NY
A collaborative, grassroots design initiative to transform a beloved open space on the East River into a community park for Williamsburg and as a key parcel along the 14 mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. This project received the NY ASLA Award in 2010 for Unbuilt Projects.
This collaborative and community-based design proposal for The East River State Park arose out of a competition sponsored in 2006 with our project work completed in 2008. In 2000, this neglected site (a former waste transfer station) along the Williamsburg waterfront, was established as a State Park with the help of active community members.
Our design acknowledges both the industrial past and the transitional present, while simultaneously planning for a sustainable future for this unique open space along this portion of the 14 mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. The proposal integrates waterfront access and stabilization, community art, educational features, green infrastructure strategies, a site-wide tree planting scheme, and the use of sustainably-designed technology to create a much needed space for people to enjoy for generations.
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Subsequently, in 2007-2008, the site was cleaned of debris and overgrown plants and made more accessible with a limited scope and budget.
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2010 NY ASLA Award for Unbuilt Projects.
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Additionally, this project is featured in Topos, Issue 61, "The Search For Open Space in NYC," and has been exhibited in several public presentations.
Design Team
Alison Duncan
Petra Mager
Julie Torres Moskovitz
Gareth Mahon
Stephanie Saulmon