Falling Debris Temporarily Closes Section of Brooklyn Bridge Park

BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK – Brooklyn Bridge Park announced on Thursday that it will temporarily close a section of the popular waterfront park to protect visitors from debris falling from the Manhattan Bridge.

“As a result of isolated incidents of materials falling from the bridge, we believe that this temporary closure is prudent out of an abundance of caution,” Eric Landau, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park, said in a statement.

The affected area, located directly under the bridge and bordered by Plymouth Street and the East River, includes a dog run, park paths, and the climbing wall DUMBO Boulders.

The Park will build a temporary overhead scaffolding around the affected area, similar to those used in pedestrian walkway construction projects, that will leave enough clearance for the rock climbing wall, AM New York reports.

The scaffolding work is expected to be completed in April and the Main Street section of the park will reopen once the structure is done.

Park officials will work with the city, DOT, and MTA in finding a permanent solution to the problem, according to Curbed. The goal is to find a solution that “fully protects the public while also meeting the design aesthetic we all have come to know and love in Brooklyn Bridge Park,” according to Landau’s statement.

Last Spring, a piece of steel fell from the Manhattan Bridge, landing near DUMBO Boulders, Curbed reports. The climbing wall temporarily closed until the MTA and DOT gave the okay for it to reopen following an inspection of the bridge.