Dolly’s Park, Brooklyn NY
In 2021, Assemblage worked together with Dolly’s Park board, and NYC GreenThumb on a park redesign that would be a greener, more accessible community space in the Gowanus neighborhood. The design transformed an underutilized gravel lot into a space for community gathering and rejuvenation. The design prioritizes the use of locally available materials: salvage bricks and timber beams from nearby demolition projects in the neighborhood. Two large entry gardens featuring native plants, newly planted trees, and a garden path made from salvage bricks. In the back, a gently sloping lawn provides a refuge with amphitheater-style seating made from reclaimed timber beams; the space is to be programmed to host outdoor events and films. The park pavers create a more accessible area, and the gardens increase stormwater capture with native plants.
Dolly’s Park was awarded the 2023 GreenThumb Landscape Design Award.
Earthwork, material salvage, finishing and hardscaping by Field Form. Planting by community volunteers, with special thanks to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy Lowlands Nursery for plant donations. Photography by Barrett Doherty.
We make every effort to source local and regional materials to reduce embodied carbon and we use salvage and reclaimed materials to reduce the harvesting of new resources and the production of new materials. Our material source map tracks the origins of Dolly’s Park materials and tells a unique narrative of place.
