The city, state and federal governments will pay to transform abandoned and contaminated piers in Sunset Park nto a waterfront park. Once again, Jeanine Ramirez of NY 1 has the tale to tell.

For decades, Sunset Park residents dreamed of having access to
their waterfront. And it’s one step closer to reality now that a total
of $36 million is in place to clean up the Bush Terminal Piers and turn
them into a park.

“Of that $36 million, more than half is coming from the State of
New York in a Brownfields grant to clean this up, the largest
Brownfield grant the State of New York has ever given to any locality,"
Governor George Pataki said Thursday.

The Bush Terminal site was an active port until 1974. Between 1974 and 1978, it was contaminated by illegal dumping.

NY1 first reported on plans for a 14-acre park back in 2002. At
that time, the city set up monitoring wells to figure out exactly what
kind of contamination existed and what kind of cleanup it needs to do.
Findings show that it’s mostly construction and demolition debris,
including petroleum and other oil sludge that pose no immediate threat
and are mostly found on piers 1 through 4. Land on piers 5 and 6 are
not as polluted.

"We’re going to get into the design phase now,” said city Parks
Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We’re probably going to get going as fast
as we can in providing some access in the areas that don’t have any
Brownfield implications."

As the early designs continue to evolve, they’ll include ball
fields, a fishing pier, restaurants, a banquet hall and an indoor ice
rink.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation will not only be in
charge of constructing the park, but also improving access to the
waterfront.

“The city has 400-plus miles of waterfront, and it’s really quite
amazing if you take a look at a map and how over the years the city
made terrible mistakes in cutting off the waterfront from the people
that live here. We are trying to rectify that," said Mayor Michael
Bloomberg.

Some in the community say this project is a long time coming.

"This is exciting, especially in a community with such little open
space, less than a quarter acre for every 1,000 people living here,
over 35,000 young people,” said community activist Elizabeth
Yeampierre. “This not only provides them with that open space, but it
provides the entire borough with access to the most beautiful
waterfront."

A waterfront that includes views of the State of Liberty, Lower Manhattan and New Jersey.