Blueway plan calls for public beach under Brooklyn Bridge

An updated East River Blueway Plan, revealed yesterday, could create a public beach beneath the Brooklyn Bridge complete with kayaking, DNAinfo reported.

The plan, by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and state Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, would overhaul the waterfront on the east side, between East 38th Street and the Brooklyn Bridge. The proposal, which does not yet have a budget or a timeline, would improve public safety by creating stronger barriers during flooding from weather events like Hurricane Sandy and also provide new public spaces, Stringer told DNAinfo. A natural beach beneath the bridge would become a public space with amenities and concession stands under the updated plan.

“When we set out to redesign an often forgotten stretch of our precious waterfront 16 months ago, we wanted a plan created by the community and for the community,” Stringer said at a public meeting at Cooper Union yesterday. “The result is a roadmap that addresses the lack of access to the East River shoreline, as well as the critical weaknesses exposed by Hurricane Sandy.” [DNAinfo] –-Guelda Voien