L-R Park staff, Dan Przestrzelski. Pawel Szulinski, Andrew Bogardt Park Manager, Pedro De Los Santos and Eric Demby of Brooklyn Flea Courtesy FERSP / Jackie Meyer

East River State Park Gets New Bike Rack

East River State Park always draws crowds, especially in the summer when bikers arrive en masse to enjoy the spectacular view of Downtown Manhattan, and on Sundays to peruse the Brooklyn Flea. Two weeks ago, visiting became a lot easier when Flea founders Eric Demby and Jonathan Butler donated two large wave bike racks inside the 7th Street entrance, at the request of the nonprofit Friends of East River State Park (FERSP).

“It’s win-win,” said FERSP Co-Chair Jackie Meyer of the racks, which can each hold 14 bikes. “It’s good for Brooklyn Flea because their customers get free parking, and it’s good for us because people don’t damage the park fence by parking their bikes on it. The turnover is great; up to 100 bikers use it a day.”

FERSP is also working in conjunction with the Department of Transportation to add more bike racks to the waterfront. Orange spread marks have already been sprayed for future installations on N. 6th and N. 7th Streets. Meyer praised NYS Parks Regional Director Karen Phillips for her support in improving North Brooklyn’s only state park, and thanked FERSP members, including new co-chair Alexandra Broenninman. Future plans include new benches, trash cans and a sandbox, just to name a few.

“The Park has a long needs list,” said Meyer. “We hope this community effort and goodwill will be contagious.”

To volunteer or join the FERSP email list, contact Meyer at friends.eastriverstatepark@aol.com.

To make a tax deductible donation, visit: https://nht.wufoo.com/forms/thank-you-for-your-donation/def/field353=East%20River%20State%20Park

or mail a check to

Friends of East River State Park/Natural Heritage Trust
49 North 8th Street 6G
Brooklyn NY 11249

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