By Denise Oliveira

If you haven’t been to Brooklyn Bridge Park – the 1.3-mile waterfront stretch along the East River, just west of Brooklyn Heights – here are 21 great reasons why you should. It’s a great place to spend an entire day, just take a stroll, or share a meal with friends. It’s easy to get to by subway (any of the stops in or around Brooklyn Heights) or via water taxi from Manhattan.

1. Kayak

2. Take your kids to a free performance at Summer Stage Kids

3. Get ice cream at Ample Hills 

4. Play basketball

5. Grill with your friends

6. Throw your kid’s birthday party

7. Enjoy the summer pop-up pool

8. Enjoy the sandy beach next to the pop-up pool

9. Have a drink or ice cream at Fornino

10. Have some pizza on the rooftop at Fornino

11. Take your kids to the playground

12. See public art (for example, this full scale replica of the Statue of Liberty’s draped sleeve, by Dahn Vo)

13. Take your kids to the rope swings

14. Sit and take in the view

15. Play soccer

16. Sunbathe

17. Play volleyball

18. Take your kids to the water sprinklers

19. Throw a ball with your friends

20. Stroll in the leafy shade

21. Sit and read