Brooklyn Bridge Park: The Best New NYC Park

As the weather warms up, New York City’s parks offer some of the best places to picnic. Central Park’s Sheep Meadow is a no-brainer, but Brooklyn Bridge Park may actually be my new favorite place.

The first section of the park opened in March on Pier 1, but only now has the weather cooperated enough to warrant a visit. I checked out the park on a blustery Saturday. Though the wind thwarted my plan to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (something I try to do at least once a year), it was warm enough to linger on a bench and admire the skyline.

The Pier 1 section includes a playground and a waterfront walkway that rivals the nearby Brooklyn Heights promenade. Best of all, if you don’t feel like packing your own picnic, the park is close to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria.

Once completed, the waterfront park is expected to cover 85 acres of prime real estate from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street just north of the Manhattan Bridge. All in all, this addition to the city’s park system serves as yet another pleasant reminder that some of the best things in NYC are still free.

Details: The Brooklyn Bridge Park is a quick walk from the A/C subway station at High Street.

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