420 Carroll Street

Located at a critical juncture on the Gowanus Canal, 420 Carroll Street extends a burgeoning network of public esplanades along the water’s edge. The new waterfront park connects residents to the restored ecology of the greater Gowanus network, stitching together rain gardens, open-air civic spaces, and adjacent public esplanades into an activated and publicly accessible canal-front. As the Gowanus Canal undergoes a federally designated Superfund cleanup, esplanades like 420 Carroll are a critical step in bringing the Gowanus Lowlands Master Plan to life.

A central ‘Street Creek’ manages stormwater flows and directs pedestrians to the canal, carving through new housing and opening onto a public plaza vegetated with native species along the water’s edge. Nicknamed ‘The Basin,’ this park area steps down to the waterfront edge and allows for immersive experiences of the canal. An elevated boardwalk wraps around the western building and ties back to the Carroll Street bridge, expanding access to the waterfront from all sides. Beneath the boardwalk, native flood-adapted plants support stormwater retention and refit the former industrial site back to its wetland roots.

Learn more:

• CBS News NY: “Gowanus Canal in midst of environmental transformation”