While many New Yorkers take their waterfront parks for granted these days, it wasn’t too long ago that all of them were once used for anything but a public green space. So what led New York’s waterfront properties to transform from military fortifications, industrial sites, and harbors to beautiful parks for recreation? And how do these new waterfront parks serve the community, while also paying homage to their historical roots? It’s time to explore some of the most incredibly unique waterfront parks that New York City has to offer.
Join New York Adventure Club online on July 7 at 1 pm Eastern as we explore some of New York City’s most prominent waterfront parks, which have been repurposed over the decades from sites of industry to beautiful and innovative public green spaces.
Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this virtual journey surrounding New York’s past, present, and future of waterfront parks will include:
- The history of New York’s waterfronts, including Governors Island’s military past and Brooklyn’s many industrial sites
- An overview of some of the most notable waterfront parks around NYC’s five boroughs
- A discussion of these parks’ cutting edge landscape design that reclaim, restore, and protect the natural waterfronts
- The push to make waterfront parks functional for the community, including Brooklyn Bridge Park’s state-of-the-art sports facilities
- A look at parks being used to showcase permanent and temporary art installations, such as Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens (photo below)
- A sneak peek at new waterfront parks slated to open in the coming years, along with ones that never got off the drawing board
Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions about New York’s waterfront parks are welcomed and encouraged!
Can’t make it live? Don’t worry, you’ll have access to the full replay for one week. $10 fee.
