English: The Brooklyn Bridge, seen from Manhattan, New York City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is developing an app and enhancing local WiFi so that people can use their smartphones for a 1.4 mile walking experience across the Brooklyn Bridge. The trek starts at the staircase entrance to the bridge at Cadman Plaza East, and ends at the home of the Brooklyn Nets (soon-to-open). During the experience, users will follow a trail to Borough Hall, Fulton Mall, and other hot spots in the area.
Though the project is still in its early stages, officials say the app may give historical information on nearby landmarks and recommend local restaurants. Tucker Reed, president of the partnership, told The New York Post, that the goal is to not only draw more people to the downtown area, but to show them how many amenities are close to one another. He said, “The pedestrian experience in Downtown Brooklyn can be confusing and overwhelming because it’s not as easy to [navigate] as Manhattan. There is a lot happening here, but we haven’t done a great job connecting the dots to the total experience, instead highlighting just individual attractions.”
Reed also noted that the $1.4 million spent over seven year to help guide tourists through the area is already outdated. The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is currently looking to hire a web designed to create the app, and is also working on a budget to fund the project.
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