Exploring Boro ‘Parks’: Bush Terminal Park

By Y.M. Lowy

In our summer series Exploring Boro ‘Parks’, BoroPark24 is visiting parks close to the neighborhood that offer a space to breathe, move, and share moments with family. Each week, we’ll share a short look at a nearby park’s past and what makes it worth a visit today.

Bush Terminal Park is one of the newer additions to Brooklyn’s waterfront, officially opened to the public in 2014. Located in the Sunset Park neighborhood between 43rd and 51st Street, west of First Avenue, the park is tucked behind a stretch of former industrial buildings. For many years, the space was fenced off and used as a freight yard. After decades of environmental cleanup and planning, it was transformed into a beautiful and peaceful public space with views of the Upper New York Bay.

At just under 24 acres, the park offers a mix of nature and play. A winding waterfront path lets visitors walk right along the edge of the harbor, with benches placed for quiet viewing of the water, passing ships, and even glimpses of the Statue of Liberty. 

There are two turf ballfields in the park that are often used for soccer and other sports, as well as walking trails and seating areas throughout. Families with children enjoy the open areas for riding scooters and playing ball, and the peaceful setting feels like a hidden getaway in the middle of a busy city.

The park also has an environmental focus. Much of the landscaping was designed to restore the natural shoreline and protect against storm damage, with salt-tolerant plants and carefully built pathways that manage water flow and erosion.

Bush Terminal Park may not be as widely known as some of the older Brooklyn parks, but its quiet charm and waterfront setting make it a special find just a short ride from Boro Park.

Stay with us as we continue exploring more parks in the weeks ahead.

photos: Zevi Klein