Prospect Park (Brooklyn)

Prospect Park is a large green space in Brooklyn, New York City, covering 526 acres. It is the second-largest park in Brooklyn and was designed by famous landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The park opened in 1867 and features many attractions, including the Long Meadow, Picnic House, Litchfield Villa, Prospect Park Zoo, and the Boathouse.

Visitors can enjoy sports facilities such as tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, and the Prospect Park Bandshell hosts outdoor concerts in the summer. The park also includes Brooklyn’s only lake and is part of the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway, connecting various green spaces across western Long Island. A private Quaker cemetery is located on Quaker Hill near the ball fields.

History

Before the park

About 17,000 years ago, a glacier shaped Long Island, creating hills and valleys in what is now Prospect Park. Mount Prospect is one of Brooklyn's tallest hills, rising 200 feet above sea level. The area was forested but became open grassland after European settlers arrived.

During the American Revolutionary War, the park area was the site of the Battle of Long Island. American forces tried to block British troops at Battle Pass, but were overcome. Though they lost, their stand allowed General Washington's army to escape to Manhattan.

In 1856, Brooklyn built a reservoir on Prospect Hill to supply water. The need to protect this area and preserve Battle Pass were reasons to create a large nearby park.

Planning

The idea to build Prospect Park began in 1859 when New York State allowed a commission to find sites for parks in Brooklyn. Brooklyn was growing quickly and leaders wanted parks for recreation. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who designed Central Park, were asked to help. Their plan included meadows, a wooded area, and a lake. The land was bought in the 1860s, though the Civil War delayed construction.

Construction

Construction started in 1866. Workers drained swamps, built roads, and planted trees. The first part of the park opened in 1867 with a playground, lake, and paths. More areas opened over the next few years. By 1873, the park was mostly finished, though some planned features like an observation tower were never built.

Late 19th century

After opening, Prospect Park became very popular for sports like archery, croquet, and ice skating. Picnics were allowed unlike in other parks, which led to litter problems. In the 1880s, the park fell into disrepair. A major restoration in the 1890s added new entrances and structures, including Grand Army Plaza.

Early 20th century

Brooklyn joined New York City in 1898. Prospect Park saw millions of visitors each year. New buildings like the Peristyle and Boathouse were added. During the 1930s, Robert Moses improved the park with new playgrounds, a zoo, and other features.

Late 20th century

By the 1970s, the park was neglected and crime was a problem. Clean-up efforts began in the 1980s with help from a non-profit group. Restorations of the carousel, boathouse, and other areas followed.

Early 21st century

In recent years, continued restoration projects have improved the park. The Wollman Rink was replaced with a new facility. Work has also focused on restoring natural areas and historic features. The park remains a popular spot for recreation and relaxation.

Geography

Prospect Park covers 526 acres in the middle of Brooklyn. It is surrounded by several neighborhoods, including Park Slope to the northwest and Windsor Terrace to the southwest. The park is also close to Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Heights.

The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to feel like a peaceful countryside. They created open spaces, planted many trees, and designed winding paths to make the park feel larger and more beautiful. The park has three main areas: an open grassy space, a wooded area with trails, and a section near a lake. There are also playgrounds, a zoo, and places to walk and enjoy nature.

Landscape features

All of the waterways in Prospect Park are part of one man-made watercourse. A winding stream with several ponds feeds a large lake at the south end of the park. The designers used natural features to create a space for birds and fish to live.

The water in the park starts at Fallkill Falls and flows through several small pools and bridges before reaching the main lake. The lake is home to many kinds of fish and visitors can fish, kayak, or ride in pedal boats.

The Ravine area contains old trees and was designed to look like a natural mountain area. The Long Meadow is a flat open space that was once used for many different sports and now has baseball fields and other features.

Fauna and flora

Prospect Park is home to many plants and animals. As of 2018, the park had about 30,000 trees from around 200 different types. Most of these trees were planted by people. The park cares for its plants by removing unwanted species and adding native ones. Four special trees are recognized by the park, including a Camperdown Elm, one of the first planted in the United States.

The park is also a great place for birds. Many birds stop there when they are traveling, and some people even see up to 100 different kinds of birds in a season. The park has records of 298 bird species, including some that are rare in other city parks. Popular bird-watching spots include Lookout and Quaker Hills, the Ravine, the Vale of Cashmere, and Lily Pond.

Other animals you might see in Prospect Park include waterfowl, turtles, bullfrogs, fish, crustaceans, squirrels, butterflies, and bats.

Landmarks and structures

Plazas and entrances

Prospect Park is shaped roughly like a hexagon. There are three circles or plazas on the exterior corners of the park, all of which contain major park entrances. Grand Army Plaza is an oval plaza at the northern corner, at the junction of Prospect Park West, Flatbush Avenue, Eastern Parkway, and several side streets. It was constructed along with the park during the late 1860s. Grand Army Plaza's largest feature is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch, a large triumphal arch in the center of the oval, which was dedicated in 1892. The plaza also includes four Doric columns, and the Bailey Fountain, constructed in 1932.

Bartel-Pritchard Square is a circle at the far western corner of Prospect Park, at the junction of Prospect Park West and Southwest. It is named after Brooklyn residents Emil Bartel and William Pritchard, who died in combat during World War I. The park entrance from the square was designed in 1896.

Machate Circle is at the southwestern corner, at the junction of Prospect Park West, Ocean Parkway, and Parkside Avenue. It was renamed in 1989 to honor a police officer killed in the line of duty.

Additional major entrances exist at the Parade Ground, on the park's south side; Parkside and Ocean Avenues, at the park's southeast corner; and Willink Hill, at Flatbush and Ocean Avenues on the eastern border. The Ocean/Parkside and Willink entrances were designed in the neoclassical style and were built in the 1890s and 1900s.

Bridges

Prospect Park originally included several arched bridges to provide crossings for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The arches were designed to blend with the scenery. Five arched bridges were built, all during the late 1860s and early 1870s.

Endale Arch, also known as Enterdale Arch, is located under East Drive, slightly south of the Grand Army Plaza entrance. It was one of the first two arches to be completed, in 1868. East Wood Arch is also located under East Drive. It was the second of the two arches to be completed in 1868. Meadowport Arch is located on the northwest side of Long Meadow and passes under West Drive. It was completed in 1870. Nethermead Arch, also completed around 1870, carries Center Drive through the center of the park. Cleft Ridge Span is located under Wellhouse Drive, at Breeze Hill, on the eastern side of Prospect Park. It was the final arch span to be opened, in 1872.

Lullwater Bridge and Terrace Bridge are the only bridges across the watercourse that were built to handle automobile traffic. Lullwater Bridge is located just downstream of the Boathouse, on Prospect Park's eastern side. Terrace Bridge carries Well House Drive over the watercourse.

Drives and paths

When it was built, Prospect Park did not have any transverse roadways. Instead, it was circled by a series of four scenic drives, named West, Center, Wellhouse, and East Drive. The drives were originally paved with gravel. The main loop, composed of West and East Drives, meanders around the park just inside its boundaries. The drives were paved with asphalt and opened to automobiles in 1918. Over the following decades, the hours at which vehicles could use the park were slowly restricted. The park's West Drive was closed to traffic in 2015. Following a trial run in which the park was car-free during summer 2017, the city determined that there were no major effects on nearby routes, and cars were barred completely from the park beginning in January 2018. All of the drives are designated as protected bike lanes.

There are also four hiking trails inside Prospect Park: the Lullwater, Midwood, Peninsula, and Waterfall trails. They range in length from 0.5 to 1.0 mile, and NYC Parks classifies all of the trails as "easy."

Monuments and statues

Prospect Park contains dozens of monuments and statues to notable figures, including:

• A bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, sculpted in 1869. It was relocated to the Concert Grove in Prospect Park in 1896.
• A bronze-on-marble statue of James S.T. Stranahan, sculpted near the Grand Army Plaza entrance. It was dedicated in 1891.
• The Lafayette Memorial, a bas-relief on granite at the Ninth Street entrance on the park's west side. The monument honors Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, and was completed in 1917.
• The Maryland Monument, a Corinthian column near Terrace Bridge. It commemorates members of the Maryland 400 who charged British forces in the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolution.
• The Prospect Park War Memorial, along the eastern shore of the lake. It was dedicated in 1921 and contains the names of people who died during World War I.
• Monuments to classical composers, including Beethoven, Mozart, and von Weber, in Concert Grove.

Notable structures

West side and Long Meadow

The Picnic House is located in Long Meadow on Prospect Park's west side. Built in 1927, it replaced an earlier rustic structure that had burned down the previous year. The Litchfield Villa is located near the intersection of 5th Street and Prospect Park West. The building was originally a private residence built in 1854–1857. NYC Parks has used Litchfield Villa as a maintenance and office building since the late 19th century. The villa was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

The Tennis House, constructed in 1909–1910, is located on the Long Meadow at West Drive. The structure is a neoclassical structure made of limestone and brick, with a red tile roof. It was first used as a locker room for tennis players.

The Harmony Playground and Bandshell is at 10th Street, to the west of West Drive. The bandshell was built in 1939 and was renamed the Lena Horne Bandshell in 2021.

Northeast side

The Rose Garden is located next to Flatbush Avenue, on the north side of Prospect Park. It was built on the site of the Playground, a lawn that had been the first part of Prospect Park to open. The Rose Garden was renovated in the 1960s.

The Prospect Park Zoo occupies a plot slightly south of the Rose Garden. The zoo was opened in 1935 and has been operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society since 1980.

East side

The oldest structure in Prospect Park, the Lefferts Historic House, is located south of the zoo. It was built in 1783 and was originally located near the Willink Hill entrance. The structure was relocated in 1920 to make way for the Willink entrance. The house operates as a children's museum of Brooklyn family life during the 19th century.

The Prospect Park Carousel is located immediately west of the Lefferts Historic House. The carousel contains 53 horses, created in 1912, as well as three carvings of other animals and two chariots. The carousel opened in October 1952.

The Willink Hill entrance contains the Willink Entrance Comfort Station. The structure opened in 1912.

The Boathouse on the Lullwater is on the Lullwater's eastern shore. Built in 1905–1907, it was the first structure in the park built by McKim, Mead and White.

South of the Boathouse is the Concert Grove, located on the northeast edge of the Lake. Originally built in 1847, it was designed so park patrons could hear music being played. The grove also contains busts of classical composers. A statue of Abraham Lincoln is located at the Concert Grove. In the middle of the grove is the Concert Grove Pavilion, also known as the Oriental Pavilion.

The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside is located immediately south of the Concert Grove. It was completed in December 2013 and replaces the former Wollman Rink. The multipurpose, year-round facility is used for ice-skating, boating, biking, and roller-skating.

Nethermead and Lookout Hill

The Music Pagoda is located in the Nethermead, on the east side of the park along the watercourse's west shore. The original pagoda, built in 1887, was a wooden structure with an octagonal roof and a stone base. It replaced a "temporary" music stand near the Lullwood. The Music Pagoda was used for concerts until it burned down in 1968. The current pagoda on the site is a re-creation of the original, built in 1971.

The Well House is located on the northern shore of the Lake, abutting the southern slope of Lookout Hill on the southwestern side of Prospect Park. It was the last structure in the park to be built by Olmsted and Vaux, having been built in 1869. The house initially contained machinery that powered Prospect Park's watercourse. In 2017, the Well House was restored and turned into a restroom.

South side

The Prospect Park Peristyle, also known as the Grecian Shelter or Croquet Shelter, is located on the southwest corner of the park, south of the Lake. Constructed by McKim, Mead and White in 1905, this peristyle was built on the site of the 1860s-era Promenade Drive Shelter. The Prospect Park Peristyle is designed in the Renaissance architectural style and consists of a rectangular colonnade with Corinthian columns. It was rehabilitated in 1966 and listed on the NRHP in 1972.

Recreation

Prospect Park has many places for people to play different sports. There are seven baseball fields in the Long Meadow, two big ones for older kids and five smaller ones for younger kids, usually around 8 to 12 years old. In winter, people can ice skate, go cross-country skiing, do figure skating, play curling, hockey, and tennis at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. This center also has places for boating and biking. The Parade Ground has many fields for different sports like soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball.

Runners enjoy the trails and drives in the park. East Drive and West Drive together make a 3.36-mile loop for walking and running. The Prospect Park Track Club, started in 1970, helps people run and race in and around the park. Big running groups like NYCRUNS and the New York Road Runners hold races there, including the New York City Half Marathon, which starts in Prospect Park and ends in Central Park. The park also has softball games, circle rules football, horse-riding lessons, and places to rent pedal boats. In winter, people can sled on the park's hills. The Bandshell holds concerts, including the "Celebrate Brooklyn!" festival, which started in 1979 and brings artists from all over the world.

Parade Ground

The Parade Ground, at the southwest corner of Prospect Park, was first planned in 1866 for military training. Today, it is a busy area with fifteen courts and fields for sports like soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball. It also has a tennis center, baseball diamonds, a football field, a soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts, a Pétanque court, and large open fields. Many famous baseball players, like Joe Torre and Sandy Koufax, started their careers here. The area was restored in 2004 and now includes a fitness center and a dog run.

Management

Prospect Park is managed by a nonprofit group called the Prospect Park Alliance, while the city of New York owns the land and facilities. The Alliance helps take care of the park’s natural areas and offers educational and cultural programs for visitors.

The Alliance was started in April 1987 after the city used federal money to renovate the park in the early 1980s. Since then, the Alliance has created programs to connect with nearby communities and has helped improve the park.

Transportation

There are four subway stations that make it easy to get to Prospect Park. On the eastern side, you can use the park's station for the B, Q, and S trains, or the Parkside Avenue station for the Q train. On the western side, the 15th Street–Prospect Park station serves the F and G trains. Grand Army Plaza has its own station for the 2 and 3 trains.

Several bus routes also stop near the park. The B61, B67, and B69 buses serve the western side, the B68 bus serves the southwestern side, and the B16, B41, B43, and B48 buses serve the eastern side. The B16 bus also runs along the southern side of the park.