Bush Terminal Park celebrates its one-year anniversary

Happy Birthday to one of Sunset Park’s newest gems!

Bush Terminal Park celebrated its one year anniversary on Sunday, November 22 with a number of activities for attendees of all ages.

“It was really fun. They did a nice job considering the cold weather. And the turnout was good,” said Community Board 7 member Lisa Perlmutter. “It was thoughtful and educational. There were a variety of different things to do that catered to both children and adults.”

Those festivities during the chilly afternoon included viewing the park’s unique wildlife, learning about oysters, looking through Brooklyn Bird Club scopes and more.

Perlmutter observed kids having a great time as they learned about nature. “It was more educational for the kids. The educators were great in showing them the oysters and teaching what they do. They were about to take them out of water. It was a fun experience for them,” she said.

However, adults that attended also gave back to the park by volunteering to clean up and help beautify the park. “For adults, they helped the Parks Department by clearing some of the brush and poison ivy close to the water,” she said. “I was surprised how many volunteers showed up during the day.”

Bush Terminal Piers Park was once a shipping and manufacturing hub. Today, it touts scenic views along with sports fields, bike and footpaths and restored nature areas. Last November, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the park to celebrate its opening.

“I have to say this is one of the most dramatic views I’ve seen in a long time,” said New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver during the ceremony.

Although a CB 7 member, Perlmutter admitted that she didn’t know much about the new park. “What’s really interesting is that I didn’t know it existed for a long time,” she said, suggesting that more people need to visit the park, especially during the summer. “We should figure out who uses the park and how better to engage the  Sunset Park community. I don’t know how many Sunset residents know about it and utilize it.

“The scenery angle is great. It’s close to the water, which reminds me of Brooklyn Borough Park,” she added. “It helps you connect with nature in a way that can be challenging in some parts of Brooklyn.”