Grand Ferry Park was a ferry landing that served the burgeoning populace of Williamsburg before it became part of Brooklyn. It is named for the 19th century Grand Street Ferry, which once carried farm goods and passengers across the East River to Manhattan. David Dunham, called the “Father of Williamsburgh,” began operating a steam ferry here in 1818. During the mid-1800s, wealthy professionals frequented the private clubs, beer gardens, and resorts that inhabited the neighborhood, while companies like Pfizer Pharmaceutical and the Havermeyers & Elder Sugar Refineries (now Domino Sugar) established themselves here along the water. The parks design incorporates elements from the site’s history. A red brick smokestack rising above a circular pattern of cobblestones was part of a molasses plant that Pfizer Pharmaceuticals used in the early 20th century for work that led, eventually, to the large-scale production of penicillin. The cobblestones were salvaged from the section of Grand Street where the park was constructed.
I recommend you grab some local carry-out or prepare a romantic picnic, and grab a seat, in this beautifull little park. Also, be sure to check out the brand new Domino Park adjacent, it's hard to miss. Possibly the best view of the Williamsburg Bridge anywhere. Photo posts encouraged!