New ‘Waterfalls’ Art Installation in NYC Gets Green Spin

A new art installation unveiled today will give the New York metropolitan area four waterfalls, located at Pier 25, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo, between Piers 4 and 5 and on the north shore of Governors Island. The waterfalls will range from 90 to 120ft, with two of them being roughly as high as the Statue of Liberty from head to toe and three-quarters of the height of Niagara Falls. The installation, by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, will be up until October 13th. The materials used to create the waterfalls will be reused in construction projects, and pains were taken to avoid disturbing aquatic life.

From The New York Times:

All told, the scaffolding used for “Waterfalls” measures 64,000 square feet and weighs 270 tons; the materials will be re-used in future construction projects after the work closes on Oct. 13. The waterfalls will be turned on every day from June 26 to Oct. 13, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and will be lighted after sunset. More details are available at the project’s official Web site.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bloomberg used his weekly radio address on Sunday to drum up excitement about the project. The mayor said, in part:

“The project promises to make a big splash in our local economy by attracting thousands of sightseers to town, who will then spend money in our restaurants, hotels and stores. And that money will go straight into the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers. In addition, the project’s design takes steps to protect fish and other aquatic life, which means that for the more than three months they’re up, the Waterfalls will have little impact on the environment.

It isn’t noted in the story, but we’re assuming that the water will be pumped up from the river and used for the falls. Check them out this summer if you live in the NYC area or plan to visit; Governors Island is open to the public all summer.

Link [The New York Times]

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