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The unique landscape of NYC waterways was an important factor for the evolution of this city into a metropolis. Today we continue to use this access to waterways and shoreline for the shipping economy and also to build community, create new green spaces and raise awareness of environmental issues. This includes the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park along the borough’s waterfront, bike lanes along Columbia Street Waterfront District, man-made hills on Governors Island and a floating innovation barge at the RETI Center Blue City in Red Hook. This is a biking tour and will start at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I will talk about early shipping routes and immigration through Ellis Island to today’s transformation of Brooklyn Bridge Park into recreational areas and the revitalization of the new public transit ferry system.

We will then explore Cobble Hill Park and Verandah Place to learn about the development of the Cobble Hill neighborhood and the creation of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE.) Then we will head over to see an example of an early working class housing project in the beautiful landmark Cobble Hill Towers, built by Alfred T. White in 1872. The towers, built for seafarers, are brick with iron balconies and two interior courtyards. Around the corner we will explore another project by Alfred T. White, the Warren Street Mews. These 34 row homes surrounding an English-style courtyard were built as Workingman’s Cottages and are one of the more unique housing developments in Brooklyn. Then we will head along the Columbia Street bike lane to visit Mother Cabrini Park and learn about her assistance with immigrants from 1890 to 1917. The tour will last approximately 1 hour and will be 1.5 miles long.