As New York City continues to evolve, living on the park is no longer a luxury enjoyed only by those lucky enough to score a rare find by Central Park. In the outer boroughs, parks developed with significant investments from real estate developers are becoming pivotal in shaping vibrant, new neighborhoods. These green spaces are not only enhancing the urban landscape but also serving as hubs for residential and commercial growth in areas that were once overlooked. Three standout examples illustrate this phenomenon: Domino Park in Williamsburg, Bankside Park in Mott Haven, and Halletts Point Esplanade in Astoria.
Domino Park & Domino Square
Situated on the Williamsburg waterfront, Domino Park is a testament to how developer investment can redefine an area. Developed by Two Trees Management and opened in 2018, this beloved 5-acre park designed by Field Operations features a blend of recreational spaces, including a playground, dog run, and sports courts, all set against a backdrop of stunning river and Manhattan views. The first component of the broader Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment to be unveiled, Domino Park anchors the lively neighborhood within a neighborhood, which also features office space at The Refinery, over 3,000 residential units across One South First, 325 Kent and One Domino Square (the site’s newest condo/rental development designed by Annabelle Selldorf), and a variety of world-class culinary and retail offerings.
This September, Two Trees will also unveil Domino Square, a new one-acre programmable park that will serve as the completion of Domino Park. Also designed by Field Operations, this vibrant civic space will unlock further connectivity between the waterfront and the wider neighborhood. Domino Square is designed to build upon the success and learnings of Domino Park, meeting the demand for larger scale community activations such as farmer’s markets, an ice rink in the winter months, graduations for neighborhood schools, and more. Inspired by the design of theaters-in-the-round, the space features tiered seating oriented to allow visitors to easily view the center of the square while also enjoying river and Manhattan views.
Bankside Park
On the Harlem River in the South Bronx, the recently-opened Bankside Park has transformed the waterfront. Developed by Brookfield Properties and spanning over an acre, the brand-new public park and esplanade – located on a former Brownfield site – provides Mott Haven community members direct access to the waterfront for the first time in over a century and is one of the first critical links to creating a contiguous waterfront access plan for the borough. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held this summer to commemorate.
Designed by award-winning landscape design firm MPFP, the park draws inspiration from the flow and movement of the Harlem River to create a natural waterfront landscape with planting beds that undulate from the building face and create nodes for passive and semi-active use buffered by native plants and flowers. The park offers an array of shade trees, open lawns, and wood-decked outlooks featuring chaise lounge chairs, café seating, and custom shade trellises, creating a host of exciting new public open spaces for residents of the South Bronx. The winding esplanade creates unique pockets for park-goers to gather in a garden environment for a river view.
One of the private largest investments in Bronx history, the park is central to the larger Bankside project, a $950 million, 4.3-acre mixed-use development which includes 1,379 apartments, 30 percent of which are rent stabilized through the City’s Affordable New York program.
Halletts Point Esplanade
In Astoria, Halletts Point Esplanade (currently under construction) will unlock waterfront access to the public and anchor yet another transformative residential hub. Developed by The Durst Organization and designed by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, this park forms part of the Halletts Point development, which will eventually include over 1,000 new apartments. Nearby, 20 and 30 Halletts Point represent the second major phase of development on the peninsula’s waterfront, following the completion of 10 Halletts Point in 2019.
These parks—Domino Park, Bankside Park, and Halletts Point Esplanade—are more than just green spaces; they are transformative elements in the outer boroughs of NYC. By serving as community meeting places for surrounding residential and commercial developments, they are helping to drive growth and improve urban living standards. As more developers recognize the value of integrating high-quality parks into their projects, we can expect to see continued revitalization across New York City’s outer boroughs.
