Marsha P. Johnson State Park (formerly and also known as East River State Park) is an
state park in the
Williamsburg neighborhood of
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
,
New York. The park stretches along the
East River
The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates the borough of Quee ...
near North 7th, 8th, and 9th Streets, with views of the
Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressw ...
and
Midtown Manhattan.
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
Marsha P. Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) also known as Malcolm Michaels Jr., was an American gay liberation''I've been involved in gay liberation ever since it first started in 1969'', 15:20 into the interview, Johnson is quoted as ...
in 2020, becoming the first New York state park to be named after an LGBTQ person.
[
]
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
Bushwick Inlet Park is a public park in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. The park currently consists of two non-contiguous sections along the East River and is eventually planned to reach into Gre ...
. The park opened on May 26, 2007, and was originally known as East River State Park. 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
McCarren Park is a public park in Brooklyn, New York City. It is located on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint and is bordered by Nassau Avenue, Bayard Street, Lorimer Street and North 12th Street. The park contains facilities for recrea ...
Pool were relocated to the East River State Park. 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.
Renaming and renovation
On February 1, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo ( ; ; born December 6, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the same position that his father, Mario Cu ...
of New York announced that the East River State Park in Brooklyn would be renamed in honor of gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) also known as Malcolm Michaels Jr., was an American gay liberation''I've been involved in gay liberation ever since it first started in 1969'', 15:20 into the interview, Johnson is quoted as ...
. New York state governor Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo ( ; ; born December 6, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the same position that his father, Mario Cu ...
formally rededicated the park on August 24, 2020, on the 75th anniversary of Johnson's birth.[ At the renaming, Cuomo also announced the addition of art and signage within the park that would reflect Johnson's work.]Kathy Hochul
Kathleen Hochul ( ; née Courtney; born August 27, 1958) is an American politician serving as the 57th governor of New York since August 24, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she is New York's first female governor, as well as the first ...
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.
Gallery
Image:East River State Park sign, Brooklyn, NY IMG_3741.JPG, Entrance sign
File:WSTM Team Dustizeff 0012.jpg, Facilities in the park
File:East River State Park - Historic Information Board 1.jpg, One of five historic information boards inside the park
File:NY 35 (11733103943).jpg, The park in winter
See also
* List of New York state parks
* List of parks in New York City
References
External links
New York State Parks: Marsha P. Johnson State ParkBrooklyn Eastern District Terminal, Palmer's Dock - A Comprehensive History: 1870-1983
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State parks of New York (state)
Parks in Brooklyn
East River
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Protected areas established in 2007
2007 establishments in New York City
LGBT monuments and memorials in the United States