Dumbo State Park: Let There be Light...At the End of the Summer

On Saturday night, Gowanus Lounge spent some time on the Dumbo waterfront and couldn't help but think about--as always--how unfortunate it is that Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park is closed at night. Well, yesterday's Daily News reported that lights are finally being installed at the state park and that it will add hours after dark. (Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is directly to Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park's north, is open until 1AM and is quite busy until very late.) The bad news, is that the lighting won't be in place until the fall.

The paper, which has been taking state park officials to task for heavy-handed rules in its New York City parks, writes:

The move comes after the Daily News chronicled widespread frustration among parkgoers in May who wanted the grassy spot near the Brooklyn Bridge to stay open later. The state park now closes at dusk - or earlier - while a city-run park next door is open until 1a.m. In May, the News once found the park closed at 6:30 p.m...A State Parks spokeswoman said officials will be working to install interim lighting in the park at the foot of Main St. in the coming weeks and hope to have the lights up and working by about mid-September.

Well, fall is still a nice time to enjoy the park, and there will always be next summer to enjoy those extended night hours.