As Brooklyn Bridge Park marks 15 years, here's how it transformed NYC's waterfront

"The first section of Brooklyn Bridge Park opened to the public 15 years ago, transforming a stretch of crumbling shipping piers and abandoned warehouses into one of New York City's most celebrated green spaces. "This is a native plant that's a magnet for ruby throated hummingbirds," said Bella Ciabattoni, deputy director of horticulture, as she pointed out the lush landscaping that now covers 85 acres along the East River. "The waterfront piers sat largely underutilized, abandoned, as so much of New York City's working waterfront really transitioned from goods being delivered by the waterways to goods being delivered by other methods," he said."

""These gardens are really special in the park because they contain water year round, and that creates a unique habitat for us," Ciabattoni said in another corner of the park featuring a small pond."

""We have a lot of programs that allow people to actually, like just dive into our environment around us. For example, we have a seining program where you can watch our educators pull things up humanely with nets and see that we have, you know, eels, we have seahorses, we have fish all around us," said Kate Mirand Calleri, the park's director of education."

Brooklyn Bridge Park opened its first section 15 years ago, converting derelict shipping piers and abandoned warehouses into 85 acres of waterfront green space. Native plantings and lush landscaping attract species such as ruby-throated hummingbirds and support habitats with year-round water features. Restored wetlands have facilitated the return of wildlife including five turtle species and recovering seahorse and oyster populations. An education center, now in its tenth year, offers hands-on programs such as seining and a college student 24-hour bio-blitz to survey biodiversity. The park was developed through a public-private partnership and emphasizes habitat restoration and community engagement.

Read at Cbsnews