Information
Landmark: East River State ParkCity: Brooklyn
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
East River State Park, Brooklyn, USA New York, North America
Overview
East River State Park, now officially called Marsha P., sits by the water with gulls wheeling overhead.In 2020, Johnson State Park opened as an 11-acre waterfront escape in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where you can watch the East River sparkle beside the pier.Steeped in history, the site offers sweeping views of Manhattan, drawing people for picnics on the grass, art displays, and lively community gatherings.Between North 7th and North 9th Streets on Kent Avenue, right across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, the park opens onto clear views of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Williamsburg Bridge.It claims a prime stretch of Brooklyn’s waterfront, one of the few roomy green spaces in the tightly packed city, with broad lawns and clusters of wild grasses swaying in the breeze.The park’s land carries a long history-once Lenape territory, it later bustled with ship masts and factory smoke from the mid-1800s through the 1900s.The Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (BEDT) once anchored the area, its rail lines and barges carrying goods between busy factories and crowded waterfront docks across the borough.Within the park, old tracks, weathered concrete pads, and worn cobblestone paths from the BEDT days still stand, keeping alive a quiet conversation between Brooklyn’s gritty industrial past and the city’s shifting urban vibe.When factories shut down in the 1980s, the place sat empty for years, weeds pushing through cracked pavement, until local volunteers fought to turn it into East River State Park, which finally opened in 2007.In 2020, they renamed it to honor Marsha P., whose name now echoes across the building’s bright blue entrance.Johnson, a Black transgender activist, stood at the heart of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, her voice cutting through the chaos like a shout in the rain.It was the first state park in New York to bear the name of an LGBTQ+ person, a milestone marked on a bright flag-lined trail.The park mixes nature, play spaces, and bits of local history, all opening onto a breezy stretch of waterfront.First.Wide lawns and garden paths invite picnics, sunbathing, yoga, or simply stretching out in the grass.Native plants and bursts of wildflowers echo the site’s natural heritage, while the open layout offers a calm, green break from Williamsburg 2’s crowded buildings.The park preserves traces of its industrial past-railroad tracks still set into the ground, weathered cobblestone loading docks, and concrete pads where warehouses and cranes once stood-while signs along the paths share stories of what came before.Enjoy unobstructed riverfront views from seats right on the edge-perfect for catching a fiery sunset or snapping the skyline-though boating and swimming aren’t allowed, you can still take in the waterfront’s sights and sounds up close.Murals and memorial installations honor Marsha P., splashing her story across bright walls and quiet corners.Johnson features a colorful fence splashed with bright reds and blues, artistic signs, and educational panels sharing her activism and influence, and sometimes hosts temporary public art shows with local groups.There’s a small, rustic playground for kids and a dog run tucked into the northern end near North 9th Street, set apart from the main lawn so kids can swing and dogs can run free without crowding the open, grassy space.The Park House, just off North 8th Street, is the place to find restrooms, join an educational program, or get help from a park ranger.It’s open to the public on select days-usually Wednesday and Saturday-from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., with occasional events adding a lively buzz to the space.Locals and visitors flock to Johnson State Park, filling its shady picnic tables and grassy paths with chatter and laughter.One standout is Smorgasburg, the sprawling outdoor food market that started here and still packs the streets every weekend with sizzling grills and hungry crowds.Community groups and NYC Parks host open-air concerts, outdoor movie nights, lively fitness classes, and family events-think kids chasing bubbles on a sunny lawn.Pride Month gatherings and LGBTQ+ heritage celebrations pay tribute to Marsha P.’s legacy, from her bold street activism to the spark of joy in her bright flower crowns.Johnson’s name rang out, sharp as a tap on glass.The park’s open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it’s free to enter.Dogs are welcome, but only in the fenced dog run.You can get here by taking the L train to Bedford Avenue-it’s about a five‑minute walk-or hop on the East River Ferry to the North Williamsburg Terminal right next door.A permit’s required if you’re hosting a group of ten or more, planning photography or filming, or throwing a catered party.Alcohol, loudspeakers, and any commercial activity aren’t allowed unless you’ve got that permit in hand.Here's a quick look at Marsha P., the woman who once marched down Christopher Street with a sunflower in her hand.Johnson State Park brings together shady lawns, sparkling shoreline, carefully preserved landmarks, and a quiet tribute to the fight for civil rights.In New York City, it stands as a symbol of resilience and cultural growth, like murals blooming across brick walls after a long winter.In the heart of Williamsburg, the park offers a calm retreat-trees swaying softly overhead-honoring the legacy of one of LGBTQ+ history’s most influential activists, while welcoming everyday New Yorkers with its beauty, open paths, and easy access.
