What's happening at Bushwick Inlet today?
The waterfront is eroding and deteriorating
An industrial warehouse cuts off public access to the water
There's no existing dedicated fund to fix environmental damage or stabilize the shoreline
Invasive plants have taken over and damaging the ecosystem
Bushwick Inlet Park lacks reliable funding for maintenance
Bushwick Inlet sits along Greenpoint's East River waterfront in North Brooklyn. This historic waterway was once the heart of the neighborhood's thriving shipbuilding industry, where the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor was launched in 1862. Over time, industrial development created barriers between the community and the water, limiting public access and leaving the shoreline vulnerable to erosion and environmental damage.
Narrow and inaccessible waterfront.
Collapsed bulkhead and eroding edge.
Invasive plant species and poor drainage into the inlet.
Take a water-level look at Bushwick Inlet's shoreline—eroding, contaminated, and blocked from public access for decades.
The Monitor Point proposal offers the only funded plan to restore this waterway. The project will excavate contaminated fill, install flood-resilient bulkhead infrastructure, replace invasive species with native plants, and create 50,000 square feet of new public waterfront access, finally fully connecting Greenpoint to Williamsburg.
Annual payments starting at $300,000
100-year commitment
Over $30 million in guaranteed funding
Sustained investment in park maintenance in partnership with the NYC Parks Department
Restoring native plants
Removing invasive species that are damaging the shoreline ecosystem
Planting native vegetation that supports local birds, pollinators, and wildlife
Choosing species that strengthen the natural habitat and improve water quality
Supporting local wildlife
Creating expanded habitat along the waterfront
Providing more space for birds and other animals to thrive
Connecting Bushwick Inlet to the broader East River ecosystem
Protecting bird life
Designed to meet Local Law 15 standards for bird safety
Using a mix of materials — not all glass — to reduce collisions
Independently reviewed by environmental consultants to ensure effectiveness
strengthening the shoreline
Stabilizing the waterfront to prevent erosion and habitat loss
Cleaning up contamination to improve water quality
Restoring natural shoreline conditions
Building for long-term ecosystem health
When people say "public land for public good," they're right! But public good means more than just addressing one need. Greenpoint neighbors need more affordable housing to stay a part of the community. It needs environmental cleanup for the next generation of Brooklynites. It needs waterfront access for all residents, not just a few. Monitor Point delivers all of it and more:
At least 300 permanently affordable homes
Permanent home for Greenpoint Monitor Museum
Safer streets by relocating industrial use
Local union jobs
New neighborhood retail space
