We normally don’t post this late on Saturday, but we just got an email announcement that East River State Park is reopening tomorrow, a month earlier than planned. The release was entitled “”Spring hsa Sprung! Friends of the East River State Park Succeeds in Getting Park Open Again.” Here is what it says:
With spring right around the corner and weather getting warmer, we’re happy to report that the East River State Park on Kent Avenue between North 7th and 9th Streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be open in time to enjoy. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (aka State Parks) plan was to close the East River State Park until the beginning of the next fiscal year (April 1st). The Friends of the East River State Park with help from Assemblyman Joe Lentol has been working to get the park open. After a letter from the Friends Group to the State Parks Commissioner—signed by thirty-two elected officials and statewide and local open space advocates—meetings and numerous phone calls, State Parks finally relented. With the support of the Friends Group doing clean ups at the park, the East River State Park is now able to be open again starting this Sunday, March 1st at 9:00 am. Come join us Sunday, March 1st at East River State Park. We need Volunteers so email us at friendsoftheeastriverstatepark@gmail.com or call us at 914-799-1832.
It’s a travesty that North Brooklyn’s only major waterfront access was taken for the winter, to save what amounts to pocket change for the state, but it’s a small victory everyone doesn’t have to wait until April 1 to get back in the park.