“The Arches” Will Open May 24 Next to Former Site of “Brooklyn Banks,” Part of Broader Effort to Improve Public Space in Chinatown and Across Lower Manhattan
Delivers on Commitment in Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda,” Part of $375 Million Investment in Vibrant New Public Spaces in All Five Boroughs
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a plan to honor the 140th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge’s opening by revitalizing public spaces in Chinatown, beginning with the opening of “the Arches” next to the site once known as the “Brooklyn Banks” and the “mecca New York skateboarding.” Roughly one acre in size, the Arches will open on May 24, 2023, after being closed to the public for over a decade, and feature space for basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and publicly available seating — directly adjacent to the 53 historic arches on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. Photos and videos of the Arches are available online. The Adams administration will also kick off public engagement efforts this spring to evaluate other spaces in the neighborhood for potential upgrades.
“One hundred forty years ago, we opened the Brooklyn Bridge and connected two islands. This is a landmark 1883 moment for our communities, our public spaces, and our city’s recovery,” said Mayor Adams. “These kinds of public spaces are a critical component of our administration’s strategy for an equitable, inclusive, and prosperous economic recovery for New York City. And we are delivering on that strategy with a $375 million investment and now two new spaces for the Chinatown residents, the skateboarding community, and all New Yorkers to enjoy.”
The reactivation of this and other public spaces under the Brooklyn Bridge and throughout Chinatown delivers on a commitment in Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda,” outlined in his State of the City address this past January, which included a $375 million investment in vibrant, new public spaces in all five boroughs to improve New Yorkers’ quality of life. This work also follows a recommendation in “Making New York Work for Everyone,” the action plan of the “New” New York panel convened by Mayor Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The action plan proposed public realm improvements in all five boroughs, including underneath and around the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan, serving as a 21st-century gateway between Chinatown, the Seaport District, and the Financial District.
North side of “the Arches,” revitalized public space under the Brooklyn Bridge opening on the bridge’s 140th anniversary. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
South side of “the Arches,” revitalized public space under the Brooklyn Bridge opening on the bridge’s 140th anniversary. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
“Today, we give back to the people of New York landmark public space under the Brooklyn Bridge,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “I’m grateful to DOT for working quickly to bring back this beloved space — providing a much-needed outlet for outdoor recreation for visitors, those who work in the area, and residents.”
“I am thrilled that the Arches are now open and ready to be enjoyed by New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “In an area where public space is limited, the Arches will serve as a crucial venue for residents to enjoy and for visitors to experience the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge and the surrounding area. This project reflects the Adams administration’s commitment to equity — ensuring that members of the community have access to quality public spaces, which are essential for building strong and vibrant communities.”
“With rehabilitation work completed before schedule, we are incredibly excited to reopen this historic space to New Yorkers, right in time to celebrate the bridge’s anniversary and this beautiful spring weather,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Rehabilitating this space will generate a host of open space benefits for New Yorkers, and I look forward to delivering additional public space upgrades like this across Chinatown in partnership with Mayor Adams, our sister agencies, and members of the community.”
“With the opening of the Arches, New Yorkers and visitors alike can enjoy a beautiful space for relaxation and play, right next to one of our city’s most iconic landmarks — the Brooklyn Bridge,” said New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and DOT for renovating and activating this public space, and we at NYC Parks are excited to work with the community and our sister agencies to help write the next chapter of open space in the neighborhood.”
“This revitalized public space at the entryway of one of America’s most historic landmarks improves the quality of life for those who live in, work in, and visit our great city, and demonstrates the city’s commitment to creating and maintaining safe, public spaces for all,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “I congratulate the Mayor’s Office, NYC Parks, and the Department of Transportation on the reopening of this beautiful park, which people will enjoy for many years to come.”
“The opening of the Arches under the Brooklyn Bridge furthers the Adams administration’s commitment to expanding and improving our public realm across New York City,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “Making New York City a great place to live, work, and play was one of the cornerstones of the ‘New’ New York action plan and continued public realm investments like the Arches do just that.”
Following an investment from the New York Department of State through its Downtown Revitalizing Initiative, the Adams administration will also work with the community to plan renovations to upgrade and expand public space at Kimlau Square and to evaluate plans for Park Row from Kimlau Square to the Brooklyn Bridge. The administration will also consider additional medium- and long-term improvements to the former Brooklyn Banks site directly under the bridge. This engagement effort will include a virtual public workshop this spring with DOT, NYC Parks, and the NYPD.
The Arches will open as DOT finishes a major project to rehabilitate the Brooklyn Bridge. The space underneath the bridge’s vehicle ramps has been largely closed to the public since 2010, when DOT began its largest-ever rehabilitation of the historic bridge structure with three projects totaling $800 million.
The current rehabilitation of the bridge has included extensive and meticulous cleaning of the bridge’s granite stones for the first time since its original construction, transforming them from a brown color — with more than a century’s worth of dust, soot, and pollution — to their original 19th-century bright gray. While cleaning the granite, skilled bricklayers also replaced mortar between individual stones, a painstaking process that used cement sourced from the same upstate New York quarries used by members of the Roebling family, who designed the bridge, for its initial construction. Bricklayers are currently completing the recreation of the original red-brick archway designs by hand, and the project is expected to finish later this year.
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