How a park under NYC's formerly 'most hated' bridge became its coolest venue

The walk from the Graham Avenue L station was just 30 minutes, but on the first really warm day of the early summer as the shaded sidewalks of Williamsburg disappeared into an increasingly industrial, treeless landscape, I kept wondering if the schlep would actually be worth it.
When I arrived at my destination under the Kosciuszko Bridge (I can hear my father chuckling in disbelief), I was more than pleasantly surprised. This was June 2021 and I was there for Reggae Under the Bridge —one of the early, legally-sanctioned events held after the most strict Covid regulations had been lifted. My whole community and many more were there enjoying the sun, cool shade and—well into the evening—deep cuts blasting out of a massive sound system that overlooked the Newtown Creek and the eastern Manhattan skyline. It was absolutely joyous.
Today, Under the K-Bridge has become one of New York's most unique and hippest venues. The 6.7-acre site—an open-air, multiuse space owned by the State Department of Transportation and run by the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance—has seen everything from events held by House of Yes to massively-attended DJ sets from popular electronic acts like Björk and Four Tet (whose recent set featured a surprise appearance from Skrillex). Alternative acts have taken to the space too: Hardcore punk group Turnstile performed at the K-Bridge in early June and CBGB Fest will bring the likes of Iggy Pop, the Sex Pistols and the Linda Lindas to the space in late September.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Bowery Presents (@bowerypresents)
'Under the K-Bridge wants to take all my money this summer,' says Brooklyn-based writer Ana Yglesias, who plans to attend Ladyland Festival with Cardi B and FKA Twigs in June.
Bands, bookers and fans like Yglesias are drawn to Under the K-Bridge for its only-in-New-York vibe. 'Under the K-Bridge offers such a unique experience for New Yorkers, something very raw, gritty and for the music,' says GRAMMY-winning South African DJ Black Coffee, whose two-night stand at the venue in 2024 drew thousands.
'You feel like you're part of a secret.'
'You're in the trendiest neighborhoods in New York, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and then it kind of becomes this industrial neighborhood that you can't quite figure out what you're getting into,' says Jim Glancy, copartner of Bowery Presents, the main agency booking the venue. 'Then you start to hear music, and you're under this bridge and there's five or six or seven thousand people with sound and lights and this incredible music, and I think it is just touching people in a pretty incredible way.'
Katie Denny Horowitz, executive director of the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, points to a unique juxtaposition of nature and development. '[Under the K-Bridge exists] against the backdrop of the kind of gritty New York City that, I think, a lot of people are yearning for. It is not a fake space. It is a space that you do not just come across. You feel like you're part of a secret.'
The park is situated directly under the BQE between Van Dam Street and Newtown Creek—a place that once seemed largely inaccessible due to the industrial business zone surrounding it and the traffic overhead. When a $1 billion makeover of the original Kosciuszko Bridge (the city's 'most hated,' per the New York Times) was completed in 2019, the Parks Alliance was already working on a plan to build out the space underneath the bridge's southern span. The Alliance held community workshops and visioning sessions, eventually landing on a multiuse space that included a skate park and a small amphitheater.
Crucially for music lovers, 'large-scale events were something that was part of [the park's] DNA before shovels even hit the ground,' Denny Horowitz says.
Following an illegal rave and a couple of break-ins by excitable skaters, the space officially opened in June 2021. Because the park is owned by the state rather than the city, Under the K-Bridge was subject to slightly different Covid regulations around gatherings. The Alliance's rollout of live events was incremental, beginning with community programming like Reggae Under the Bridge and House of Yes's Summer of Love.
The Alliance partnered with Bowery Presents—which operates venues like Brooklyn Steel and Webster Hall, and worked with NBPA to program concerts at McCarren Park Pool a decade prior—in 2024. Last year, Bowery presented nine shows at the K-Bridge; this year it has 15 planned.
'This is obviously a completely raw space that isn't on everyone's radar at this point,' says Glancy. 'The first few shows we've had [this season], we've had industry out and they're just losing their minds about how cool it is. So I think over time, more and more artists will hear about it.'
Hosting concerts Under the K-Bridge isn't without issue, however. There are no services—porta-potties must be brought in and there's nothing resembling the back-of-house infrastructure of an established venue. That austere atmosphere might lend itself more to an electronic DJ who has fewer crew on the road and requires less backline, or a punk band more attuned to the rough-hewn aesthetic of the place.
'It's also a public park with no public funding. Every dollar that is used to maintain the park… whether it's seating or horticultural features, we have to raise,' Denny Horowitz says. 'Part of the funding model was to be able to have events there that could earn enough revenue to actually pay to support the park.'
Which isn't to say Under the K-Bridge has been an unprofitable venture. Glancy characterized Bowery's 2024 series on site as 'absolutely positive' while 2025 'looks good'—even for a business with tight margins. However, given the level of build required for each show, Under the K-Bridge is best fit for artists who can command higher ticket prices. Tickets to Turnstile's June 5 show are around $110 as of writing; Jamie xx, who will perform over two nights in early August, commands up to $153 for VIP admission.
The North Brooklyn Parks Alliance has been host to about two dozen shows each outdoor season since 2021 and has no plans to slow down. They're working toward becoming a zero-waste event space and also plan to continue working with community organizers on free events.
'We steered away from creating this identity for the space, because it has organically achieved this reputation for attracting folks from all over the city,' Denny Horowitz says. 'The bridge itself is so mesmerizing. It has the light show from above, you have these columns overhead. That is something that isn't a visual and physical presence in any other space.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Glasgow Times

29 minutes ago

• Glasgow Times

The Glasgow food spot that's a 'love letter to Colombia'

Ana says the food stall is more of a 'love story than a business story' and says she and Andres, who comes from Colombia, have the same dream to help people in South America and the Latin community in Glasgow. READ NEXT: New restaurant opens in Southside bringing a taste of Algeria to Glasgow The 41-year-old said: 'I've been working with asylum seekers and refugees since I've been in Scotland, but I've never had a charity or proper place to help them. 'We share the same vision, it's a business yes, we are starting something new because there are no Colombian places in Glasgow but the mission in the future is to create a charity or community for Latin people who are here. 'Then we want to help people in South America because we still have a lot of family there and they need clothes, food and money for education so our dream in the future is to create something so we can help our people.' (Image: Robert Perry) She added: "Colombian Bites is our love letter to Colombia and to the Latin spirit that lives in both of us – a small but powerful dream that we're so proud to share with the people of Glasgow." (Image: Robert Perry) Ana and Andres, who both moved to Scotland in July 2017 but met a year ago, first set up Colombian Bites in September last year for the Latin Fiesta Fest at SWG3. Ana, who is a risk analyst and sings in Glasgow-based band Furor Tropical, has been involved with the city's Latin community since she moved here and runs the festival alongside Janet Durand. Colombia Bites serves dishes such empanadas, tostadas and arepas, with Ana using her own recipes. Ana was born in Uruguay and has lived in Italy and Spain but learned to cook Venezuelan and Colombian dishes, with Andres' family also now helping her. (Image: Robert Perry) READ NEXT: Critically acclaimed chef set to open second restaurant next month Since being at The Barras, both Ana and Andres, who are raising three children between them, have been surprised by how many people are already familiar with Colombian culture and food and also how many people have roots in the country. Ana said: 'It's not only about food. 'When people come to our stall, they share their experience, and we didn't know how many people there were in the city who have roots in Colombia. 'Many people know Colombian cities and they tell us they've been there and loved the food, so there's a link between Scottish and Colombian culture we didn't know about it and it's so surprising.' She continued: 'It's had an amazing response. 'We've been sold out many weekends and we have long queues.

Powys County Times

an hour ago

• Powys County Times

New adventure launched by Powys outdoor escape company

POWYS-based outdoor escape games business Beyond Breakout has launched a new adventure with a strong mid Wales connection. The Llanidloes-based business, led by Lorna Morris and Jo Woodall, will test the skills of players with Operation Whiskerfall. Their latest mission sends players on a thrilling spy quest through the streets of Llanidloes, blending mobile technology with real-world escape room challenges. Designed for groups of all ages, Operation Whiskerfall is packed with clever puzzles, fun and a storyline full of intrigue and tail-twisting turns. Players join the secret agency F.I.S.H or Feline Intelligence Security Headquarters to save top agent Philly Purry, who has vanished while investigating the strange goings on in mid Wales. Using a code sent straight to their mobile phones, teams activate the game and work together to uncover clues, crack codes and claw their way to victory. This allows teams total flexibility and control over when they want to play. 'We wanted to create something fun, family-friendly and totally unique,' said Jo. 'Operation Whiskerfall combines the excitement of an escape room outdoors with the added magic of mobile interactivity and a healthy dose of feline flair. 'This game is a celebration of everything we love - storytelling, community, teamwork and, of course, cats' added Lorna Morris. 'It's a paws-itively unforgettable experience.' Operation Whiskerfall is now live and available to book via the Beyond Breakout website - It's perfect for families, friends, tourists, or anyone looking for a fresh adventure in mid Wales. 'All our games are designed to bring people together through laughter and play,' said Lorna. 'We have permanent routes set up in Llanidloes, Newtown and recently added a route in Rhayader. We are adding more towns all the time.'

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Ioan Gruffudd's wife Bianca Wallace reveals brutal reality of her pregnancy after his ex-Alice Evans shares reaction to their baby news: 'Some kind of torture'

's wife, Bianca Wallace, has shared a brutally honest account of her difficult pregnancy journey. The Australian actress, 32, who is expecting her first child with the Fantastic Four star, 51, took to Instagram to share a raw photo diary and series of emotional videos documenting what she described as 'some kind of torture' during her first trimester. 'Life lately… Some real moments, because no one needs to be as shocked as I was to find out how f**ked pregnancy actually is,' she wrote, alongside 13 images and videos detailing weeks of intense morning sickness and physical pain. In one confronting clip, Bianca is seen lying in bed with a heat pack, grimacing in pain as she describes how constant vomiting left her bedridden and unable to sleep. She revealed she vomited so violently she threw her back out for four days, and shared a snap of herself looking pale and drained after throwing up 67 times in one day. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Australian actress, 32, who is expecting her first child with the Fantastic Four star, 51, took to Instagram to share a raw photo diary and series of emotional videos documenting what she described as 'some kind of torture' during her first trimester In another photo, she is seen clutching a bowl of cornflakes - one of the only foods she could stomach for weeks. The post was both a personal confession and a public service announcement. She reassured others who may be experiencing similarly rough pregnancies, writing: 'You're not crazy! More often than not it isn't just nausea and "morning sickness". It IS sh*t and rough and f**ked and it IS ok to be honest about it!' Her pregnancy update comes just over a week after Bianca and Ioan announced they were expecting their first child together, posting a sweet black-and-white image of the actor kissing his wife's baby bump. 'Baby Gruffudd poppin' out to say hello!' they captioned the snap, which was met with an outpouring of love from fans and celebrity friends. But while the couple's news delighted many, it appeared to trigger a scathing response from Ioan's ex-wife Alice Evans, 55, who shared her own cryptic post following the announcement. Without naming the couple, Alice wrote: 'Some people like to go low. I can't. Not because I'm better. But because I have kids. This s**t is some kind of torture.' The post sparked speculation among fans that it was a veiled dig at her ex and his new wife, reigniting tensions from the pair's bitter public split. Ioan and Alice finalised their divorce in July 2023 but remain locked in a fiery legal battle over spousal and child support for their two daughters, Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11. Court documents have detailed years of alleged abuse, online harassment, and restraining orders. Bianca was previously granted a three-year domestic violence restraining order against Alice, with Ioan claiming his ex had embarked on a 'smear campaign' against them. Despite the drama, Ioan and Bianca have pressed on with their life together, sharing footage in April of their low-key wedding ceremony with the caption: 'Mr & Mrs Gruffudd. Marriage now, wedding later.' Ioan, who currently stars in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which has grossed over $400 million globally, has denied Alice's claims that she and their children have been left destitute, saying he's paid over $400,000 more than required under their prenup. Meanwhile, Alice recently revealed she had been evicted from her Los Angeles home, later launching a GoFundMe campaign to help her find housing. 'Thanks to all of you, my girls and I and Emma [the family dog] have a roof over our heads,' she said in a recent update, thanking supporters for their donations. While Ioan and Bianca continue to navigate the highs and lows of pregnancy – and public scrutiny – the couple appear focused on their growing family, with Bianca finishing her post on a lighter note, sharing that her dog Bubba has become her 'protector' through it all. 'This week… Bubba's still taking his protector job very seriously,' she wrote, sharing an adorable image of the pup curled up next to her baby bump.