Construction is officially underway on a long-awaited new waterfront park in Greenpoint, where a fenced-off lot that has sat vacant for more than 20 years will finally be transformed into 2.5 acres of public green space.
The $40 million Box Street Park will bring an elevated esplanade, terraced seating, native gardens, dog runs, a basketball court, public restrooms, and more to the Greenpoint waterfront along Newtown Creek.
The park is being built on the former site of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) facility, a long-promised piece of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront that dates back to the neighborhood’s 2005 rezoning.
After decades of delays, the project is finally moving forward, with construction expected to be completed by the end of summer 2028.
A $40 Million Glow-Up For A Long-Vacant Greenpoint Lot
Once complete, Box Street Park will fill a major gap along the waterfront at the northern tip of Greenpoint, connecting to existing waterfront esplanades to the east and west.
The current project covers 2.5 acres, with plans to eventually add another 0.5 acres once the MTA’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is relocated from the southeastern corner of the site.
And this isn’t just a small neighborhood beautification project.
The city says the current capital project is backed by $40 million in funding, including $34.5 million from the Mayor’s Office, $500,000 from the City Council, and approximately $5 million from local developers through air rights sales and private funds.
The Mayor’s Office also included an additional $2 million investment in the September Capital Commitment Plan released this week.
Here’s What’s Coming To The Greenpoint Waterfront
The new park will give New Yorkers plenty of ways to enjoy the waterfront, whether they’re looking to take a stroll, hang out on the grass, bring their pup, shoot some hoops, or simply take in the views of Newtown Creek.
Here’s a look at what visitors can expect:
- An elevated waterfront esplanade with connections to the surrounding waterfront pathways
- ADA-accessible pathways throughout the park
- Terraced granite seating for relaxing and taking in the waterfront
- Native gardens and green space, including blackgum and Eastern redbud trees, purple love grass and little bluestem grasses, and Virginia rose and seaside goldenrod shrubs and perennials
- A basketball court
- A picnic area
- Separate dog runs for small and large dogs
- A public restroom
The landscaping isn’t just there to make the park look pretty, either. According to the city, the native plants will help cool and clean the air, improve the site’s resilience to extreme weather, and create habitat for local wildlife. Mayor Mamdani stated:
We are finally making good on a promise that Greenpoint families have been waiting decades to see fulfilled: turning a parking lot into a park. Box Street Park will give New Yorkers a place to walk, play, rest, and gather along the water, with lush gardens, open green space, and pathways connecting neighbors to the waterfront.
Greenpointers Have Been Waiting More Than 20 Years For This Park
The new park has been a long time coming.
Box Street Park was first envisioned as part of the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront rezoning, which promised new public open space along the rapidly developing waterfront.
But while thousands of new homes were built throughout the neighborhood over the years, the site remained fenced off and inaccessible to the public.
Local elected officials and community advocates continued pushing for the park, with Council Member Lincoln Restler describing it as a “broken promise” that Greenpoint residents had been waiting decades to see fulfilled.
Now, after more than 20 years of planning, advocacy, and delays, construction has officially begun.
When Can New Yorkers Visit?
Unfortunately, Greenpointers will have to wait a little longer before they can actually enjoy the new park.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2028, meaning the neighborhood’s long-promised waterfront green space is still nearly two years away from welcoming visitors.
But after more than two decades of waiting, Box Street Park is finally underway.
Watch the press conference about Box Street Park below: