Closing Bell: New Pop-up Waterfront Park Opens Saturday at Domino Site in Williamsburg

A biker at the now-closed Havemeyer Park. Photo by Brooklyn Bike Park

A waterfront pop-up park with an urban farm and a mountain-biking “pump track” is currently being constructed in stealth mode, under wraps and behind a fence next door to the Domino Sugar Refinery on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, we saw when we stopped by yesterday afternoon. It will open this weekend — on Saturday, the 4th of July.

Developer Two Trees will eventually replace the pop-up with a permanent park, as part of its redevelopment of the Domino site.

This isn’t the first pop-up park for the project: Beginning in July 2013, the temporary Havemeyer Park operated across the street at 317 Kent Avenue, pictured above. The popular space shut down last September so work could begin on a 16-story building, the first step in the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Domino property.

A bike track under construction at the new pop-up. Photo by Brooklyn Bike Park

The new park is located between the landmarked 1880s factory building and the Williamsburg Bridge. There is an entrance on Kent Avenue, and the green space runs down to the water, turns a corner, and heads north, wrapping around the factory in an L shape.

When we scoped out the site in person, we could see hazy outlines of workers putting in landscaping and a bike track behind a tall fence. This new pop-up will feature two elements, both carryovers from the previous park.

The pop-up park, currently being created behind a green fence, above. Photo by Steve Sherman

A park entrance on Kent Avenue, above. Photo by Steve Sherman

One is the Farm on Kent, run by North Brooklyn Farms, which is back for its third season at the Domino site. It will offer a retail farm stand, events, farm-to-table dinners, workshops, and a CSA featuring the farm’s produce as well as items from other local producers.

It will operate Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekends 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On the biking end is the Velosolutions Brooklyn Bike Park, also a carryover from Havemeyer Park. It will operate a paved pump track (the first in North America, apparently), with areas suitable for riders of all ages and at all levels. Classes and bike rentals will be offered.

The bike park will operate weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to start; hours will expand soon, said Two Trees.

The park will remain open through the fall, if weather allows.

Domino Coverage [Brownstoner]

The farm at now-closed Havemeyer Park. Photo via Two Trees Management