Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Marsha P. Johnson State Park (formerly and also known as East River State Park) is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) state park[2] in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The park stretches along the East River near North 7th, 8th, and 9th Streets, with views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Midtown Manhattan.

For the park in Manhattan, see East River Park.
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
East River State Park
View of Marsha P. Johnson State Park with the East River and Midtown Manhattan in the background
TypeState park
LocationWilliamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
Coordinates40°43′18″N 73°57′44″W
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Created2007
Operated byNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Visitors1,464,993 (in 2014)[1]
OpenYear round

East River State Park opened in 2007 on the site of the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal. The park was renamed in honor of gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson in 2020, becoming the first New York state park to be named after an LGBTQ person.[3][4]

History

Marsha P. Johnson State Park is built on the former site of the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, the first offline railroad terminal to be located in Brooklyn (opened in 1870 as Palmer's Dock). It is adjacent to the city-run Bushwick Inlet Park. The park opened on May 26, 2007, and was originally known as East River State Park.[5] Unlike other nearby parks, it closes at dusk. State park rules prohibit dogs and bicycle riding.

In 2009, the music concerts that were held at the McCarren Park Pool were relocated to the East River State Park.[6] The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) selected the East River State Park as the site for future performances. The park has been nicknamed the Williamsburg Waterfront. Through a public/private partnership the Open Space Alliance and Ticketmaster, live music performances will be held through the summer months at the East River State Park.[7]

Renaming and renovation

On February 1, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York announced that the East River State Park in Brooklyn would be renamed in honor of gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson.[8][9][10] New York state governor Andrew Cuomo formally rededicated the park on August 24, 2020, on the 75th anniversary of Johnson's birth.[3][4] At the renaming, Cuomo also announced the addition of art and signage within the park that would reflect Johnson's work.[4] The state government closed parts of the park in early 2021,[11] adding trees, paths, gardens, and event spaces as part of a renovation.[12][13] The state originally planned to commission a mural honoring Johnson, but these plans were scrapped in mid-2021 after community members and activists criticized the lack of public input for the plans.[14][15]

In August 2022, on the 77th anniversary of Johnson's birth, governor Kathy Hochul announced that a new gate to the park would be constructed as part of a renovation. The gateway would contain floral decorations, which Johnson frequently wore, and the words "Pay it no mind", which Johnson sardonically said was what her middle initial stood for.[12][13]

  • Entrance sign
    Entrance sign
  • Facilities in the park
    Facilities in the park
  • One of five historic information boards inside the park
    One of five historic information boards inside the park
  • The park in winter
    The park in winter

See also

References
  1. "State Park Annual Attendance Figures by Facility: Beginning 2003". Data.ny.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9" (PDF). 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 672. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  3. Riley, John (August 26, 2020). "New York governor dedicates state park in memory of LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson". Metro Weekly. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  4. Hickman, Matt (August 25, 2020). "Brooklyn's East River State Park renamed in honor of late LGBTQ activist and trans icon Marsha P. Johnson". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  5. Ramirez, Anthony (May 27, 2007). "In Brooklyn, Modest Space, but It Does Have a View". The New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  6. Sisario, Ben (March 27, 2009). "A New Home for Outdoor Concerts in Williamsburg". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  7. "Williamsburg Waterfront Concerts". Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  8. Goldiner, Dave (February 1, 2020). "Cuomo to rename Brooklyn state park for trailblazing transgender black activist". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  9. Chang, Sophia (February 3, 2020). "East River State Park Will Be Renamed For Pioneering Gay Rights Activist Marsha P. Johnson". Gothamist. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  10. "New York State To Rename Brooklyn Park After LGBTIQA+ Activist Marsha P. Johnson". NPR.org. February 3, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  11. Duggan, Kevin (January 14, 2021). "Locals slam six-month park closure for Cuomo pet project". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  12. Brendlen, Kirstyn (August 25, 2022). "Marsha P. Johnson Park to get new 'ornamental gateway' to cap off renovations, honor park's namesake". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  13. Ginsburg, Aaron (August 25, 2022). "Brooklyn's Marsha P. Johnson Park to get new 'ornamental' entrance". 6sqft. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  14. Duggan, Kevin (March 9, 2021). "State Parks ditches controversial Marsha P. Johnson mural following backlash". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  15. Gannon, Devin (May 10, 2021). "New design for Marsha P. Johnson State Park adds more greenery, scraps rainbow-striped mural". 6sqft. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
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