The Salt Marsh – Pier 1: Brooklyn Bridge Park

Abstract

This article details the design and construction of the Pier 1 salt marsh in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New
York City. The construction of this humble wetland signals a shift in urban park-making, as it compels
visitors to venture and engage with the water’s edge, instead of viewing it from afar, separated from the waterfront by constructed barriers. This softening of the waters’ edge represents an appreciation for the value of urban nature, and makes real the notion that urban parks can be more than an escape from the city—they can be a place to enjoy nature within the city.