The Brooklyn Strand reimagines Downtown Brooklyn’s parks and plazas as a continuous promenade linking the surrounding neighborhoods to the waterfront. Led by WXY, the project transforms underused spaces into a welcoming, functional public realm that creates a connected, accessible urban experience for residents and visitors alike.

Downtown Brooklyn’s rapid growth remains undermined by poor connectivity to its surrounding neighborhoods and waterfront. The Brooklyn Tech Triangle—comprising Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, and the Navy Yard—lacks seamless connections for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Barriers like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) and high-traffic bridge approaches fragment the area, limiting access to hubs like Brooklyn Bridge Park, which draws nearly 5 million visitors annually, and DUMBO, where the population has grown by 66% in a decade. This disconnect hinders the Tech Triangle’s potential to fully support its expanding residential, commercial, and cultural activity. 

Our plan stitches together a series of disjointed parks and plazas into a greenway that connects Downtown Brooklyn to the waterfront. The design introduces wide, tree-lined pathways to improve pedestrian flow, bridges gaps between public spaces, and creates safer crossings at key intersections.  Revitalized plazas feature custom seating, shaded areas, and interactive elements like fountains and play zones to encourage gathering and engagement. Landscaping incorporates native plants that enhance biodiversity and manage stormwater, while paving patterns subtly guide movement and unify the park’s visual identity. The design also integrates new lighting, public art, and wayfinding to ensure safety and a welcoming atmosphere day and night, fostering an inviting environment that serves as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination for visitors. 

Our plan for the Brooklyn Strand was shaped by an extensive and inclusive community engagement process. WXY led walkthroughs with over 40 local organizations, ensuring that diverse voices informed the design. Five community workshops drew more than 200 residents, fostering open dialogue about the area’s potential and reflecting the community’s priorities and aspirations for the project. By translating this feedback into actionable ideas, WXY created a plan deeply rooted in local needs and shared vision.

The Brooklyn Strand offers a bold blueprint for a more connected and equitable Downtown Brooklyn. It sets a precedent for community-driven design, enriching public life and paving the way for future opportunities once the commitment is there to make a change.