Brooklyn Bridge Park Construction Begins

Ground broke this week in the construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a 1.3-mile park on the Brooklyn waterfront along the East River. The first phase of the park's nine-month construction started on Monday, the Empire State Development Corporation said in a statement released yesterday.

The first phase will include the demolition of five pier shed buildings — Piers 1-6 — with the exception of a few elements that will be incorporated into the park. It will also include demolition of the Purchase Building and three adjacent sheds, demolition of three buildings adjacent to Piers 2, 3 and 6, and the removal of trees, vegetation, and some miscellaneous elements. Construction is being overseen by Skanska USA. This is the third groundbreaking for the project since 2001. The planned 85-acre waterfront park would stretch between Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO.