The site of the former Domino Sugar refinery in Williamsburg is reopening as a new public park.

News 12 cameras caught a preview of the park's grand opening Friday -- where Frank Ortiz, a former refinery worker, was reminiscing.

"It's not destroyed," he mused. "It's here."

Benches in the park were made from wood salvaged in the old warehouse, Ortiz says. 

And a depiction of him and some of his other former colleagues sits right beside the new park entrance.

The waterfront refinery served as a neighborhood landmark since the 19th century. But it was dormant for a long time.

The revitalization project was five years in the making, spearheaded by Two Trees Management, a real estate development company.

"We were working right up until today, really," said Dave Lombino, a Two Trees director.

Now it has a dog park, a volleyball court and large green spaces.