Dumbo NYC

"we don’t need any buildings or fancy marina to support the upkeep."

How do you know what it costs to maintain parkland? Particularly the special needs of waterfront parkland...? Do you have a depth of experience in public fund management that we're unaware of?

Public-private partnerships are increasingly the only way to properly support non-essential resources and services. It's a compromise to be sure, but I for one would rather rely on the some wealthy area residents to exert pressure on keeping the area in tip-top shape rather than on the city alone--the minute the city needs to make financial sacrifices, where do you think that would happen?

I don't claim to know specifics about costs for maintaining parkland or the NYC budget. The point I wanted to make with that statement is that instead of developing the area with too many extras such as marinas that the city has to maintain, why not keep the park simple, and thus less costly to maintain? I agree with your point about relying on wealthy area residents to keep the area in working order. There should be a middle ground between public-private partnerships for this park so we can all enjoy it sooner than later.

If a Marina costs more to maintain, it also brings in more revenue since the slips are leased for a fee. Given the trend toward making new public amenities self-supporting, I would have to believe that this Marina was added to LESSEN the burden on tax-payers.

In any event, while I have not seen particulars with respect to what minimum or maximum boat lengths are being contemplated for the Marina, what is with the assumption that a Marina is a playground for the rich. I know plenty of people of modest means who own recreational boats and whose idea of relaxing by the water and enjoying the view of Manhattan includes doing so from their boat. Indeed, far from being an enclave for the rich, Marinas in the NYC area are more economically integrated than many other aspects of our city life. Where my friend (of very modest means) kept his sailboat (Liberty Landing in Jersey City), one could regulary see Wall Street Banker types and Blue-Collar types jointly commiserating about the ups and downs of boat ownership and maintenance or telling tales of great trips on the water. The sense of community on the docks was palpable and clearly rested the boat-owners shared passion for their recreational activity of choice. Discusions of money tended to be limited to members of all income brackets complaining about how much it cost to get the last item on their boat that broke fixed. Notably, below a certain threshold, one would not be able to tell from the size of a given boat how much money the boat's owner made. Rather, boat-size was more a measure of a particular boat-owner's passion for boating. The neighborliness had only one boundry that I was able to observe, "Don't ask me to help fix your head, and I won't ask you to help fix mine."

In short, boating IS recreational activity, and a Marina makes boating possible. I would not advocate turning the entire water-front into a Marina, but I think NYC has a severe shortage of them and could stand to build a few. I do not own a boat but, I hope that one day (retirement? though that's years away) I will. If I do, I would like to be able to take some combination of public transportation to get to it, rather than having to leave town. Moreover, if the money generated new Marinas is directed to the parkland alongside them (rather than the general coffers where it will be pissed away), we will all be better off.

The curent designs for the park DO NOT INCLUDE a design for a Marina - that has nothing to do with what is know as Brooklyn Bridge Park
The Metro Source is incorrect

Thanks guys, interesting perspectives. Page 6 of the general project plan (ref. Brooklynbridgepark.org) states: "Outside the safe water zones, the area between Piers 5 and 6 would provide slips for the mooring of historic or educational vessels. Between Piers 5 and 4 would be a marina for sailboats and powerboats. A ramp would allow for boat launching from the upland."

Did the plan change to not include the marina?

Last I heard there was a Marina...

Marina maybe someday but not in the initial plans