Barretto Point and Concrete Plant Parks

Concrete Plant Park and the river

Concrete Plant Park and the river

New York City has built some great parks along the waterfront in the past 10-15 years. Concrete Plant and Barretto Point are just two. Typically squeezed into unused, post-industrial sites, the Parks Department has cleaned them up, put in native plants, installed attractive-but-durable facilities, and made each one unique.

Concrete Plant Park structures

Concrete Plant Park structures

Concrete Plant Park and train

Concrete Plant Park and train

Concrete Plant Park

close up – Concrete Plant Park

Around Concrete Plant Park

Two bridges over the Bronx River

Two bridges over the Bronx River

derelict NYW&B train station

derelict NYW&B train station

This building exemplifies the problem of preservation. Cities grow and change; without change, there would be no progress. So, not everything can be kept as is was. And, it follows that once a thing or a building is no longer in daily use, it costs money to preserve it. Sadly, there simply are not enough resources to preserve everything. It would be very nice indeed to maintain this old artifact of the defunct New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad.

Buffleheads on the Bronx River

Buffleheads on the Bronx River

Federal Blue bridge over Bruckner Blvd.

Federal Blue bridge over Bruckner Blvd.

One of the seven approved colors of NYC’s bridges.

Barretto Point Park

Barretto Point Park amphitheater

Barretto Point Park amphitheater

Barretto Point Park beach

Barretto Point Park beach

North Brother Island and Manhattan skyline

North Brother Island and Manhattan skyline

view from the park

Barretto Point Park boat ramp

Barretto Point Park boat ramp