NYC DOT Opens Next Phase of 'The Arches,' New Inviting Public Space on Manhattan Side of Brooklyn Bridge

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November 18, 2024
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NYC DOT Opens Next Phase of "The Arches," New Inviting Public Space on Manhattan Side of Brooklyn Bridge

Opening TODAY, Newest Neighborhood Amenity Adds Nearly 15,000 Square Feet of Public Space, Offering Residents and Tourists Easy Access, Park Benches, and Shade Trees

Area Had Been Closed for More Than a Decade as Part of Major Restoration and Cleaning of Brooklyn Bridge, Now Nearing Completion

Public space in The Arches opening today. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that more public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge has opened today. Earlier sections of that public space, collectively known as "The Arches," which serve to physically connect the Bridge to Chinatown, were opened last year to honor the 140th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge's opening.

"Public space in Manhattan is precious - every acre counts for the people who live, work in, and visit our bustling metropolis," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "Where better to continue to deliver peaceful, elevated public space than a stone's throw from Chinatown, in the shade of one of our city's most iconic landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge. While we have miles to go to complete our whole vision for this area, we are also grateful to be able to celebrate the wins and welcome New York to an area too long cordoned off, a new refuge for fun and relaxation."

"For the last decade, NYC DOT crews have worked hard to restore the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, creating a cleaner, brighter, and safer bridge to last us another century," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Now that this critical restoration is nearing a close, we are returning another portion of 'The Arches' to the community. For residents of and visitors to lower Manhattan and Chinatown, even small public spaces are precious - and we will continue working with the community to open even more of the Arches in the months ahead."

"When people think about the Brooklyn Bridge, the beautiful space under the bridge in Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park also come to mind," said Ya-Ting Liu, Chief Public Realm Officer. "Soon, the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge will provide the public with just as iconic public space and vistas. Today marks another major step towards that vision."

The area opening today had served as a contractor staging area for the last decade, supporting restoration for the Brooklyn Bridge, projects which have together totaled more than $1 billion in investment. The newest "Arches" space returns 1/3-acre of space to the community - with access to more than a dozen tall shade trees, including oaks, elms, and Japanese pagoda trees. Sixteen park benches, many with views of the adjacent historic bridge, have also been restored and installed around the space, bounded by Park Row on the north and Rose Street to the south.

The area of "The Arches," outlined in green, opening to the public today. Blue outlined section opened to the public last year. Credit: NYC DOT

In May 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the opening of The Arches as well as the revitalization of public space near the Brooklyn Bridge and in Chinatown, next to the "Brooklyn Banks" site, once known as the "mecca of New York skateboarding." The Arches honors this history with a revitalized skate space designed in partnership with Tony Hawk's The Skatepark Project (TSP). The Administration continues to work closely with TSP to ensure all materials and design features of the park meet the safety, wellness, and performance needs of the action sports community ensuring that the site's historic legacy continues for years to come. Additionally, the new one acre of space opened with facilities for basketball, pickleball, and shuffleboard, along with publicly available seating - all directly adjacent to the 53 historic arches on the north side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The largest sections of the Arches area have yet to be re-opened - and NYC DOT has begun a local engagement process, which includes community board meetings and visioning sessions to be held before the end of this year. In September, the agency also applied to US DOT seeking a federal grant to fund the next sections of the Arches project under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That pilot specifically targets projects designed to "reinstitute community connectivity." The agency awaits a decision on an award.

About the Brooklyn Bridge

An American icon, the Brooklyn Bridge's construction began in January 1869. When it opened on May 24, 1883, the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world and the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere. The bridge's grand opening was met with great fanfare, including President Chester A. Arthur attending the festivities. The bridge, which originally included trolley service, today accommodates vehicle traffic, a pedestrian walkway, and dedicated bike lanes added in 2021. An estimated 120,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians, and 4,000 cyclists use the bridge each day.

Made of limestone, granite, brick, steel, and concrete, the bridge's recent restoration featured meticulous cleaning of every individual stone and brick. The mortar used to hold the stones together in the restoration was sourced from the same upstate New York quarry as the original mortar. After decades of maintaining a brown appearance from generations of dirt, grime, and pollution, the deep clean restored the bridge's towers to their original gray color.

"I'm thrilled that this large section of The Arches has been restored and is now open to the neighborhood, which despite being one of the most densely populated areas of Manhattan has access to very little open space and has been historically underplanted. Restoring The Arches is an innovative use of existing open space," said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. "I look forward to the work continuing to renovate and re-open the remainder of The Arches, bringing much-needed new green, open space to Lower Manhattan."

"The opening of The Arches in Manhattan is a victory for all New Yorkers, adding 15,000 more square footage of greenspace and improving the quality of life for thousands of residents," said Congressmember Dan Goldman. "I commend NYC DOT and Commissioner Rodriguez for expanding the recreational space available to New Yorkers in the Lower East Side. I look forward to the project's completion and will continue working to make efficient and productive use of our city's scarce land."

"I have long advocated for the City to reopen the iconic spaces underneath and around the Brooklyn Bridge for public use, amplifying the voices of many residents of our community. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, the dedicated team at DOT, and the Mayor's Office for their hard work and commitment to making this a reality," said State Senator Brian Kavanagh. "Opening up this beautiful space, now accessible to residents and visitors of Lower Manhattan and Chinatown, marks an important step towards enhancing the quality of life in our community. With nearly 15,000 square feet of lush greenery and restored benches, it's a wonderful opportunity for relaxation and connection. In the coming months and years, I envision this area being further revitalized to host a diverse range of programming and activities, fostering community engagement and enriching the lives of all who visit."

"I commend Commissioner Rodriguez and the DOT for their work in opening this space for public use," said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick. "Even though the Arches area is outside of my district, our Lower Manhattan communities will benefit greatly from open public space, and I'm so glad this section will include benches and shade trees for those New Yorkers seeking respite outdoors."

"Bringing The Arches back to life is a huge win for Lower Manhattan and Chinatown, where open space is so limited but so vital to our community's health and well-being," said City Councilmember Christopher Marte. "This newly opened area under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge not only provides shade and a spot to rest but also symbolizes an investment in our public spaces and our neighborhood. As we continue working to make Lower Manhattan more livable, it's encouraging to see these long-closed areas returned to the community for everyone to enjoy."

"Gotham Park, Plaza Partner of the NYC DOT for the Arches, applauds the hard work of the women and men of DOT and City Hall who have labored to open this treasured next section for public use. Enormous thanks to Mayor Eric Adams, DM Meera Joshi, CPRO Ya-Ting Liu, SA James Archer, and their diligent teams at City Hall for investing in our environmental justice neighborhood. Thank you, Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and the entire DOT team, our neighbors at NYPD and CTD, MOCEJ and EDC," said Rosa Chang, Co-Founder and President of Gotham Park. "A project as complicated as the Arches, spanning multiple agencies, bureaucracies, stages, and hurdles, requires the focus, time and hard work of an enormous number of people behind the scenes who make today possible. We the community will treasure this enlarged space for us to breathe, play, dance, garden, and build friendships. This is only the second step of a long journey to envision, fund, and build a legacy public space, creating supportive and inspiring civic infrastructure for generations to come. Gotham Park thanks you ALL for your partnership in this important endeavor for New York City."

"The Brooklyn Banks is not only a valuable community space, but one of the most iconic skate spots in the history of skateboarding. The Skatepark Project has had the honor of working to ensure that the Banks retains its authenticity and continues to be a celebrated skateboarding destination for years to come," said Benjamin Anderson Bashein, Chief Executive Officer of The Skatepark Project. "The City, Gotham Park, and Vans have served as instrumental partners as we work cohesively to maintain the Banks and re-open it for the public to enjoy."

"This revitalized space at The Arches is a remarkable addition to the community that Pace calls home right in the heart of Lower Manhattan. It exemplifies the power of following through on a vision, and we are deeply grateful to the NYC Department of Transportation for their extraordinary efforts in restoring this vital public space," said Pace University President Marvin Krislov. "I want to especially thank Gotham Park's co-founder and president Rosa Chang for her innovative leadership and commitment to making this project a reality. Her dedication has made possible a space that will inspire reflection, connection, and learning-not only for our students but for everyone in this vibrant community."

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