Paige Buzard
This is a panoramic video clip of the first shoreline view when we entered Bennett Field. It was so refreshing to see that the boardwalk opened up to such a gorgeous ocean view. The sound of the waves was lovely. I liked the long views and the open sky. I think this is one of the very few places in the city area you can go to experience a completely new world. Here are no skyscrapers, pervious ground surface, vast spaces and ocean waves.
Bennet Field was not designed to be a park although it seems like the perfect place to have an expansive designated area. Bennett Field was originally an air field for famous pilots like Amelia Earhart, but it became the cities first municipal airport when Mayor LaGuardia landed in New York instead of landing in New Jersey. Its use as a municipal airport was short lived because it was turned into a naval air force base during the world war. Long Islanders manufactured planes and they were sent here before departing for battle. It was really interesting to see the old plane hangers. I even liked the abandoned look the buildings had, it appeared historical and mysterious and gave the site a nice character.
Bennet Field was not designed to be a park although it seems like the perfect place to have an expansive designated area. Bennett Field was originally an air field for famous pilots like Amelia Earhart, but it became the cities first municipal airport when Mayor LaGuardia landed in New York instead of landing in New Jersey. Its use as a municipal airport was short lived because it was turned into a naval air force base during the world war. Long Islanders manufactured planes and they were sent here before departing for battle. It was really interesting to see the old plane hangers. I even liked the abandoned look the buildings had, it appeared historical and mysterious and gave the site a nice character.
There is no doubt that the boardwalk under such a blue sky was one of the nicest views in Brooklyn. Even though sand had blown over the boardwalk, it was still possible to run or walk or bike along the ocean. I don't think that there was much maintenance going on at this park because the sand did not look like it was being managed and the plant life was overgrown and brambly (I think it went well with the abandoned feel of the site so there are places where management is best left at a minimum).
The second image of the above shots is of the bike and pedestrian lane. There was minimal signage but we all could easily comprehend the yellow line running through the middle and on the regular path we passed people without a problem. We did cross a bridge though and that was rough. The bike lane over that bridge was very narrow, especially for a two-way which as bikers kept pedaling at our group, you realized it was. To my knowledge, no one hit anyone else, but it was a little to close to comfort. I would have preferred to have a foot of space between handlebars, but now I know for future design.
The next image was of the group riding down the takeoff/landing strip. It was a special experience to have the bikes going down an old Navy air strip.
Bennett Field also features some programming and camping seemed to be popular here. There is a small fee and an area to set up tents. People were using the beach to go swimming, kayaking, fishing etc. There is probably more potential for this location but it must be hard to get people out here because of transit and distance from everything else. If Long Islanders would travel out to Jones Beach for concerts and live events, I bet that they could use Bennett Field for similar things and it would attract a large audience.
P.S. Volunteering for the Gowanus Canal in the morning was also a blast!
The second image of the above shots is of the bike and pedestrian lane. There was minimal signage but we all could easily comprehend the yellow line running through the middle and on the regular path we passed people without a problem. We did cross a bridge though and that was rough. The bike lane over that bridge was very narrow, especially for a two-way which as bikers kept pedaling at our group, you realized it was. To my knowledge, no one hit anyone else, but it was a little to close to comfort. I would have preferred to have a foot of space between handlebars, but now I know for future design.
The next image was of the group riding down the takeoff/landing strip. It was a special experience to have the bikes going down an old Navy air strip.
Bennett Field also features some programming and camping seemed to be popular here. There is a small fee and an area to set up tents. People were using the beach to go swimming, kayaking, fishing etc. There is probably more potential for this location but it must be hard to get people out here because of transit and distance from everything else. If Long Islanders would travel out to Jones Beach for concerts and live events, I bet that they could use Bennett Field for similar things and it would attract a large audience.
P.S. Volunteering for the Gowanus Canal in the morning was also a blast!
