Squibb Park Renovation Begins, Foot Bridge in Limbo
The renovation of Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights has begun! We happened to pass by this morning as contractors were setting up for their first day of work. As we understand it, the work mainly consists of repairs and repaving, though we have a request into the Parks Department for more detail. On a related…
The renovation of Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights has begun! We happened to pass by this morning as contractors were setting up for their first day of work. As we understand it, the work mainly consists of repairs and repaving, though we have a request into the Parks Department for more detail. On a related note, you can see the demolition of the building on Furman Street in the background where the foot bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park was originally slated to go; as of now, however, that piece of the project remains unfunded.
Update: Here’s a statement we just got from the Parks Dept:
At Squibb Park, the current work consists of: removing all deteriorated pavements, fencing and play unit remnants; expanding tree planting beds with will have new ground cover plantings added; pruning existing trees; installing new drain lines and accessible drinking fountain; benches; and, new asphalt pavement with a color seal coating. The comfort station (restroom) is also being repaired. Anticipated reopening of the playground and comfort station is in June.
The longer range plan to be done at a later date after the Public Design Commission reviews and approves includes the overhead bridge connection to Brooklyn Bridge Park, decking, a skate park and reconstructing the site entrance ramp.
In recent years I’ve seen work being done on the comfort station and on the benches, *before* this current batch of work. A few years ago when this was open, I was able to use the swings at the far NW corner, which could hold an adult.
The two wading areas—one has a basketball hoop added much later—harken back to the way playgrounds were in the 1940s, with the two wading areas for children and toddlers. I seriously doubt whether the fountains will still work, these many decades later.
thanks ML. It wasn’t locked up when I lived there, but it made no sense to actually enter it. Connecting to the new park makes a lot of sense.
Squibb park has been locked up for years. No one uses it. It is fairly dangerous as there is only one, very long, means of egress. I think the immediate plan is for exclusive use of PS 8 students. Some day if they add a bridge or ramp on the other side, it probably will be open during daylight hours like other playgrounds.
Does anyone use that park these days? When I lived in the Heights with a small kid twenty years ago no one would ever use it… a real death trap.
Yes, it would be a nice shortcut into the park from the Heights. I hope it happens but I understand the obstacles that might prevent it from happening. Keep in mind that most of the park construction itself has yet to be funded.
“Squibb playground is being renovated for the kids at PS 8 to use as an outdoor play area while a new school addition is being built on part of the existing school PS 8 playground.”
I’m confused – Squibb is a public playground – will it only be open to PS 8 to use?
Still, Minard, it would be really nice to be able to access the new park from the promenade and not have to go to either Atlantic/Joralemon or Fulton Landing.
Squibb playground is being renovated for the kids at PS 8 to use as an outdoor play area while a new school addition is being built on part of the existing school PS 8 playground.
In order to link this space with BBP you need more than a bridge. You also need stairs and I suppose an elevator to comply with accessability codes. It isn’t rocket science but it would be pretty expensive to build and maintain.
Oh, just build the footbridge. A. Squibb Park is pretty cool and it would be great if it was incorporated into the larger park; and 2. The footbridge would be an additional means of accessing the park, and it would be conveniently located right at the end of the promenade.