How Healthy Is Your Neighborhood?
Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO
Score: 42/50
Available Green Space: 8
Sure, Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO don’t have the massive, 500+ acres of Prospect Park at hand, but who needs that when residents benefit from the recently revamped Brooklyn Bridge Park in all its waterfront glory? Add to that the tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights and you’ve got an area of Brooklyn that doesn’t want for verdant beauty.
Fresh Air: 7
Although both Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO benefit from waterfront access, even the wealthiest of the borough’s neighborhoods are impacted by the legacy of Robert Moses. The beautiful Brooklyn Heights promenade might be a great place for a stroll, with unparalleled views of downtown Manhattan, but it also hovers over the BQE and the noxious fumes of the cars and trucks below. And the streets of DUMBO are unfortunately circumscribed by exit and entry ramps to the bridges, making it an easily walkable area only if you make it down to the waterfront.
Bicycling Infrastructure: 9
Here’s where these neighborhoods really come out on top. Not only do they benefit from many and clearly marked bike lanes, but they’re also replete with Citi Bike docking stations. An added bonus for residents who need to commute into Manhattan is the easy access to both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
Gyms: 10
What do you need? Yoga classes? Ballet barre workouts? Maybe a visit to a world-renowned boxing gym? Whether you want to do downward dog or wind up face up on the mat at Gleason’s, Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO have got you covered. No worries, you’ll break a sweat.
Healthy Food Availability: 8
There’s plenty of healthy food to be had here, from beloved Brooklyn Heights store Perelandra Natural Foods to DUMBO’s Foragers (where we have spent way, WAY too much money on things like chia seed oatmeal). But like a lot of things in these neighborhoods, it’s going to cost you. A cheaper, healthy eating alternative is DUMBO’s Peas & Pickles, which stocks a wide variety of more reasonably priced vegetarian and vegan options.