“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 – 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.
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