Brooklyn Bridge Park: From Piers to Parklands

This week on The Wild Idea, Bill and Anders sit down with Rashid Poulson and Bella Ciabattoni, the horticulture leaders at Brooklyn Bridge Park, to talk about one of New York City’s most surprising wild spaces. What was once a stretch of abandoned shipping piers has become 85 acres of thriving wetlands, meadows, and woodlands along the East River, offering both locals and visitors a chance to reconnect with nature in the heart of the city. The conversation dives into what it takes to keep an urban waterfront alive with birdsong and tree canopy, from creative planting strategies to the value of having a dedicated team who knows the land season after season. At its heart, the story of Brooklyn Bridge Park is about more than plants; it is about people finding joy, curiosity, and connection in a place that feels both wild and welcoming.Learn more about today's guests, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the other resources mentioned today at our website, thewildidea.com