Marsha P. Johnson State Park is built on the former site of the
Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, the first offline railroad terminal to be located in Brooklyn (opened in 1870 as Palmer's Dock). It is adjacent to the city-run
Bushwick Inlet Park. The park opened on May 26, 2007, and was originally known as East River State Park. Unlike other nearby parks, it closes at dusk. State park rules prohibit dogs and bicycle riding. In 2009, the music concerts that were held at the
McCarren Park Pool were relocated to the East River State Park. The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) selected the East River State Park as the site for future performances. The park has been nicknamed the Williamsburg Waterfront. Through a public/private partnership the Open Space Alliance and Ticketmaster, live music performances will be held through the summer months at the East River State Park.
Renaming and renovation On February 1, 2020, Governor
Andrew Cuomo of New York announced that the
East River State Park in Brooklyn would be renamed in honor of gay rights activist
Marsha P. Johnson. New York state governor
Andrew Cuomo formally rededicated the park on August 24, 2020, on the 75th anniversary of Johnson's birth. The state government closed parts of the park in early 2021, adding trees, paths, gardens, and event spaces as part of a renovation. In August 2022, on the 77th anniversary of Johnson's birth, governor
Kathy Hochul announced that a new gate to the park would be constructed as part of a renovation. The gateway would contain floral decorations, which Johnson frequently wore, and the words "Pay it no mind", which Johnson sardonically said was what her middle initial stood for. A new park design was introduced in 2022 based on community engagement by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects, with more green space and plantings reflecting Marsha P. Johnson's love of fresh flowers. ==Gallery==