As I always say here on the blog, one of the things that I love about New York is the capacity that the city has to reinvent itself. There is always something new: a new store, a new restaurant, a new space, a new tourist attraction. Last weekend, the Big Apple officially won another park to call its own. The Domino Park opened on Sunday and I tried to stop by the next day to check everything up close. Before the opening, I had passed NYC Ferry and had already enjoyed what I had seen, and after seeing the official photos on the internet, I had no doubt that I would love. The six-acre, privately-funded park, designed by the lead designers of the High Line, is part of Two Trees’ redevelopment of the former Domino Sugar Factory site into a mixed-use office and residential community in Williamsburg.
The park is located on the banks of the East River in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s cool neighborhood. The name is a tribute to the old Domino Sugar Factory, which worked there in the past. Today, the old factory mixes with the look of the place and its ruins contrast with the modern structure of the park. Also, the Sweetwater Playground will transport youngsters back to the sugar industry by way of slides, conveyor belts, tunnels and other exciting amenities. They can access three various areas of the attraction, which includes Sugarcane Cabin, Sweetwater Silo and Sugar Cube Centrifuge. The playground features lively colors, metal and reused wood from factory floors. I loved this fact!
In addition to the playground, the structure of the park has a beach volleyball court, plenty of space to sit, sunbeds, dog run, bathrooms, restaurant – Tacocina, specializing in Mexican tacos – and of course, a simply incredible view that contemplates the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center and the wonderful Williamsburg Bridge. Oh, and it still has a higher structure, for you to climb, hike and enjoy the view.
I loved the Domino Park! The only negative point, for now, is that the trees are still small so there is not so much shaded area. So if you go for a walk in the summer, I recommend going in the late afternoon. In addition, it is a delight to walk there, enjoy and enjoy to explore a new area of the city.
Address: 15 River St – use L train or NYC Ferry / North Williamsburg.
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
