Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

Grand Army Plaza Arch is Restored

June 5, 2025

On June 5, NYC Parks and Prospect Park Alliance held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the restoration of the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn’s most significant monumental public artwork. Through $8.9 million in Mayoral funding, the Alliance restored the Arch and the surrounding plaza and landscaped berms.

It is the first significant restoration of this Brooklyn icon in nearly 50 years, and included replacing the roof and reinforcing the historic structure, as well as repointing its beautiful granite stonework to remove years of build-up, staining and spalling; repairing interior elements, including decorative bronze and cast-iron spiral staircases and entrance gates; and designing new, energy-efficient lighting to better showcase the historic elements of the arch and its statuary. In addition, during the Arch’s restoration, the NYC Parks Citywide Monuments Conservation Program cleaned and restored the Arch’s monumental statuary. The project recently received a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the Landmarks Conservancy, its highest honor for excellence in preservation.

NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers will be holding special tours of the Arch on Saturday, June 28. Register for the lottery: prospectpark.org/arch-tour.

“The Grand Army Plaza Arch stands not only as a gateway to Prospect Park, but as a powerful symbol of Brooklyn’s history, resilience, and pride,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration is dedicated to revitalizing public spaces like the Grand Army Plaza Arch and ensuring that New Yorkers continue to have access to green space throughout the city. This restoration demonstrates our city’s commitment to preserving the landmarks that shape our identity and inspire future generations. Today, we honor the past while building a better, more beautiful future for all New Yorkers.”

“For decades, the Grand Army Plaza Arch has welcomed visitors to Brooklyn’s Backyard while paying tribute to the New Yorkers who gave their lives in the Civil War. Now, thanks to our partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance, this Brooklyn icon has gotten a major facelift, restoring the beautiful statuary and artwork to its original glory,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “By caring for the monuments, statues, and artworks that enhance our public spaces, we’re not just preserving our history – we are communicating to New Yorkers that they deserve the best from their public realm. Parks is proud to maintain over 800 monuments citywide, and we look forward to further partnerships with both the public and private sectors to continue our work as stewards for the city’s outdoor museum.”

“The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon and now once again a shining jewel of the borough. We are so grateful to the Mayor’s Office for providing the funding so that the Alliance could restore the Arch to its original glory, and ensure that it serves as an essential civic space for our community for generations to come,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President and Park Administrator. “While triumphal arches typically recognize great military victories and generals, this arch is dedicated to the rank and file, honoring the young men of Brooklyn who lost their lives defending the union in the Civil War. This makes the arch a true monument of the people, welcoming all into Prospect Park and signifying that this is a place where all in our community are celebrated and seen.”

“The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch has long stood as one of Brooklyn’s most powerful, historical, and iconic symbols,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This restoration not only brings new life to one of our borough’s most treasured monuments but also revitalizes the heart of Grand Army Plaza for generations of Brooklynites to come. Thanks to Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks for their hard work maintaining this historic landmark.”

“I’m thrilled that the restoration of the Grand Army Plaza Arch is now complete, and deeply grateful to the Prospect Park Alliance and the Parks Department for delivering this project on time for the surrounding community and the entire borough of Brooklyn,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “This arch is more than a landmark. It’s a gateway to Brooklyn’s Backyard and a powerful tribute to a turning point in American history, reflecting the values we continue to cherish today. I’m especially proud that this restoration was recognized with the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, the highest honor for preservation efforts from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. Brooklyn deserves nothing less.”

“The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is an iconic portal to one of the city’s most beautiful parks — one that deserves to stand in its full glory. For many, this historic arch represents the heart and soul of Brooklyn past, present, and future,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, New Yorkers will visit the park and admire this landmark for generations to come.”

“The Arch is more than just the gateway to Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park—it’s an iconic symbol of Brooklyn’s greatness and of what we can accomplish when we work together,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “Public works like the Arch are a part of our history and our collective heritage, and New Yorkers deserve beautiful, well-maintained public spaces that both honor that history and meet our needs today. This restoration does exactly that, and ensures the Arch will stand proudly as we walk together into the future. Thanks to the Parks Department, the Prospect Park Alliance for this crucial, powerful work.”

“It’s wonderful to see this restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza. Thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Parks, and all who collaborated for their work on this project,” said Assemblymember Robert Carroll. “The Arch is an iconic historic monument and maintaining and enhancing our public spaces is essential to what makes Brooklyn and New York City great.”

“The restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is a powerful tribute to Brooklyn’s enduring commitment to history, beauty, and public space. This investment ensures that one of our borough’s most iconic and cherished landmarks, a true staple of Brooklyn life, will continue to inspire generations to come. As a proud Brooklynite, I’m grateful to see this monument restored with such care and vision. I commend the Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Parks, and all partners involved for their dedication to preserving the legacy of Grand Army Plaza,” said Assemblymember Brian Cunningham.

“The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is one of the most powerful symbols of Brooklyn’s commitment to freedom and racial equality,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. “I’m thankful to the NYC Parks Department and Prospect Park Alliance for their dedication in overseeing the restoration of this incredible monument and maintaining Grand Army Plaza as a vital community hub.”

Background on the Arch and Grand Army Plaza Restoration

Famed Prospect Park architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Grand Army Plaza as the grand entrance to Prospect Park at the time of the park’s creation in 1867. In 1892, the plaza became the site of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives defending the Union during the Civil War. 

The arch was designed by American architect John H. Duncan, who also designed Grant’s Tomb. At the time it was considered Brooklyn’s Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in Paris. The arch is adorned with three bronze statuary ensembles by the Brooklyn-born Beaux Arts sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies, who was also a highly accomplished painter and portraitist. The arch also includes statuary by artists Philip Martiny and William Rudolf O’Donovan, as well as equestrian bas-reliefs by famed American artist Thomas Eakins. It is one of New York City’s three major triumphal arches.

The arch was landmarked in 1975, when the structure was in such severe disrepair that the statue on top of the arch, the quadriga of Columbia, literally fell from her chariot. In 1976, the City undertook a comprehensive restoration. The fall of the quadriga became the symbol of the greater need for support for Prospect Park, which led to the founding of the group that would become Prospect Park Alliance. 

To restore the Arch, the Alliance’s in-house team of award-winning architects conducted significant research to uncover the historic design. Original blueprints were lost to time, requiring the Alliance to create a detailed scan of the inner structure using radar and magnetic investigation. Through these scans, and physical surveys and drawings from previous restorations, the Alliance embarked on a comprehensive restoration. This included reinforcing the historic structure with new steel beams and creating a new internal drainage system. After laboratory testing, the team determined the composition of the stonework mortar, Rosendale cement from the namesake town in upstate New York, and utilized this in the restoration. In addition, cracked and broken stonework was replaced to match the existing stone from a quarry near the original source in Maine. On the interior, bronze and cast-iron spiral staircases and entrance gates were carefully disassembled for restoration: original elements were meticulously cleaned, missing elements recreated, and then the renewed piece was reassembled on site. 

The Alliance also restored the landscaped berms that frame the plaza on its east, west and north sides. This work included removing invasive plants, trees and shrubs; and planting 194 native trees, as well as new plants and shrubs that provide interest and color throughout the seasons. The Alliance also replaced a chain link fence with low, decorative steel fencing. At the plaza, the Alliance restored the broken bluestone and granite paving around Bailey Fountain and the John F. Kennedy Memorial and added a new ADA-accessible curb cut at the north entrance to the plaza.

Learn more about Capital Projects + improvements underway in Prospect Park.

Scenic Lullwater Viewing Platform Restored

June 4, 2025

Prospect Park Alliance recently finished the restoration of one of the most scenic lookouts in Brooklyn’s Backyard, known as the Lullwater viewing platform. From this vantage point, park goers can view the picturesque Lullwater and Boathouse, as well as the breathtaking Binnen Falls. It is an ideal place to spot some of the many birds, turtles and other wildlife that call Prospect Park home.

“The Lullwater viewing platform was originally built in 2002 and is situated at the base of the Binnen Falls,” said Christian Zimmerman, Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management. Although not an original design by Prospect Park creators Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the platform was built in the same rustic style that the two famed landscape architects utilized throughout the park. Before the iconic Boathouse we see today was completed in 1905, the location of the viewing platform was the end point of a boat landing and a shelter for ice skaters to warm up when ice skating was permitted on the Lake. “The boat landing and shelter was one of the best spots to view Binnen Falls and look out over the Lullwater, which was what inspired the creation of the new viewing platform in 2002,” said Zimmerman.

The Lullwater viewing platform is one of three rustic structures that was built in Prospect Park in the early 2000s. All are tucked away in the woodlands along the watercourse or Lake, providing Brooklynites a scenic escape in nature. The second can be found above the Binnen Falls in the area called the Lily Pond and the third can be found behind a cove when walking South from the Boathouse or southeast from the Nethermeade towards the Lullwater.

Archival images of the boatlanding and ice warming house on the Lullwater. c. Prospect Park Archives/Bob Levine Collection, Prospect Park Archives

Rustic structures generally have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years depending on how much wear and tear they experience. Having hit the 23-year mark, the platform was due for restoration to bring back this beloved lookout to its original glory. “We built the platform from Atlantic Eastern cedar and standard pine decking. The joints are connected by smaller pieces of wood that lock into each other instead of nails or other hardware to keep the natural, rustic appearance,” explained Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, pictured above (right), and the Alliance’s Design and Construction team designed the platform (left) to provide Brooklynites one of the most scenic viewpoints in Brooklyn’s Backyard. c. Prospect Park Alliance

This restoration was made possible thanks to Prospect Park Alliance’s ReNew Prospect Park initiative, which deploys private funds to serve our Brooklyn community in light of reduced city resources and increased use of the park. Through this initiative, the Alliance is able to complete a range of essential maintenance projects across the park to improve the daily visitor experience in the park.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s recent Re:New Prospect Park improvements.

8 Ways to Welcome Spring

April 8, 2025

Prospect Park is where Spring comes to life! With the change in season right at our front door, check out 8 activities to welcome the season and explore Prospect Park’s cherished destinations for seasonal fun throughout our 585 acres of meadows, woodlands and waterways. Plus, don’t miss the jam-packed activities open for you and your little ones this spring break!

1. Spend Spring Break in Brooklyn’s Backyard
Make the most of Spring Break in Prospect Park with family-friendly fun! This school break from Monday, April 14–Friday, April 17, visit the Prospect Park Audubon Center from 12–4 pm to get hands-on with seed and planting activities, experience an animal encounter and learn about the park’s trees and plants as well as the wildlife that call the park home. Plus, from 12–5 pm, take a spin on the park’s beloved Prospect Park Carousel.

2. Lend a Hand at a Spring Volunteer Event
Explore your park while giving back to the park you love all season long. Join Prospect Park Alliance for Park Pitch-In events on select Saturdays and Sundays to tackle a range of projects from tree care to removing invasive plants and weeds, picking up trash and much more. Check out the Sunset Series on Tuesday evenings from April – August to help with invasive plant removal, litter pickup and mulching to help Brooklyn’s Backyard thrive this season.

3. Go Birdwatching + Experience Spring Migration
Springtime is a peak season to admire the many vibrant feathered friends that pass through Brooklyn’s Backyard during Spring Migration. Prospect Park is located along the Atlantic Flyway, making it ideal for spotting migrating songbirds and more in spring. Make the most of the season with bloom-filled trees to compliment the vibrant species that frequent the park. Learn more about the 250+ bird species that can be spotted in Prospect Park, and join an upcoming Saturday morning Introduction to Birdwatching Walk or First Sunday Outing with the Brooklyn Bird Club.

4. Enjoy Family-Friendly Nature Programs + Pop-Up Audubon Events
Don’t miss family fun at the Audubon Center! Visit the Boathouse for nature programs on Thursdays–Sundays and holidays to get to know the plants and animals that call Brooklyn’s Backyard home through seasonal spring discovery stations, family bird walks and more.

5. Take a Spin on the Historic Carousel
Celebrate the start of spring at opening day of the beloved 1912 Carousel, one of the most popular attractions in Prospect Park. Kick off the season on Friday, March 28, with your little ones to enjoy rides on Thursdays–Sundays and school holidays from 12–5 pm. Plus, the Carousel offers packages for birthday parties for you to plan a celebration your little one will never forget.

6. Enjoy a Spring Bloom Walk
There’s nothing like a walk among spring blossoms in your park. Check out peak destinations to make the most of this season throughout the park. Plus, want to explore the park with a group on a guided route? Don’t miss weekly Wellness Walks on Fridays from 10 am–12 pm to boost your health and wellness on a scenic stroll, and weekly Stroller Walks for parents and caregivers with little ones to explore on Thursdays from 10 am–12 pm.

7. Spring Break Holiday Program
Make the most of Spring Break! Register for the Prospect Park Tennis Center’s Spring Break Holiday Program for intensive group instruction for both adults and youth of all levels of experience from April 14 – April 18 from 1–4 pm. Our accomplished staff of tennis professionals gives players personal attention while they acquire game fundamentals and increase their skill level

8. Honor a Loved One This Arbor Day
Commemorate a loved one and plant community trees at Prospect Park Alliance’s annual Arbor Day planting event on Friday, April 25. The Alliance’s arborist chooses the species and location of the trees, and all donors and their honorees are invited to participate in the tree planting on the morning of Arbor Day. By joining, you will not only help raise critical funds towards our mission to sustain, restore, and advance Prospect Park, but you will also participate in an ideal way to honor and celebrate your loved ones in a communal setting.

The Next Chapter at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside

March 18, 2025

After more than a decade of serving our community, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside will begin a new chapter this spring! Prospect Park Alliance has appointed its first LeFrak Center Director to oversee operations at the Center. The Alliance is also making physical improvements on site to renew this heavily used destination, including the popular Splash Pad; and bringing on board new operators for ice skating, rollerskating and other recreational offerings, as well as for the Center’s cafe.

“The LeFrak Center at Lakeside is one of the largest projects in Prospect Park Alliance’s history,” said Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “We have been able to serve hundreds of thousands of community members each year with dynamic programs and activities, but also had a learning curve on how to ensure the best visitor experience. With the appointment of an Alliance Center Director, renovations to our facilities, and the upcoming selection of new operators, we are looking at a bright future.”

This month, Prospect Park Alliance welcomed Andrew Frey as the first LeFrak Center Director. In this role, he will oversee all operations and ensure the Center is well maintained and welcoming to all community members. Andrew comes to the park with many years experience in rink operations, including the last four ice skating seasons at Wollman Rink in Central Park. He has a personal passion for skating and opening up the sport to those who face barriers to access.

“I grew up playing roller hockey in the streets and schoolyards of Queens because we did not have access to a nearby ice rink,” said the Alliance LeFrak Center Director, Andrew Frey. “I come to this position not only with many years experience in operating local, seasonal rinks, but also as part of the LeFrak Center community. I have played ice hockey at the Center for the past four seasons, and look forward to ensuring we provide a first-rate experience to our community and wider access overall to ice and roller skating for everyone.”

“Prospect Park Alliance has been an integral part of hosting Gotham Roller Derby for many successful seasons as we’ve called LeFrak home for our bouts and practices,” said Gabrialle Landsverk, Head of Coaching at Gotham Roller Derby. “We are looking forward to continuing collaboration to bring skating events and community to the neighborhood.”

In addition to ice skating, roller skating, biking and boating activities, which will remain a core focus at the LeFrak Center, Frey is also interested in bringing more recreational, cultural and community events to the Center. The goal is to expand the offerings while building upon existing beloved events that have found a home at the LeFrak Center, such as Molière in the Park.

“The LeFrak Center has been the beating heart of Molière in the Park since our first season in 2019,” said Lucie Tiberghien, Founding Artistic Director. “We’ve been able to bring free theater productions of the highest professional quality to our beloved Brooklyn, in a splendid and unique setting. Last year, we awarded the Alliance our Shoulder to Shoulder Award for their commitment to building and sustaining communal spaces for people of all socioeconomic, cultural and racial backgrounds. We are thrilled to be able to double down on this commitment with the Alliance and LeFrak Center’s new management team.”

The Alliance also issued separate Requests for Proposals for recreational activities and the cafe, with the hope of making the cafe its own destination in the park, in addition to serving those enjoying the Center’s recreational activities.

“When it comes to the needs expressed by the community, access to high-quality, reasonably priced food and drink nears the top of the list, along with restrooms,” said Emily Krell, Alliance Vice President of Visitor Experience. “We are looking forward to offering a new cafe, along with well-maintained public restrooms and a renovated Splash Pad.”

The Alliance is in the final stages of selecting the new operators, and commencing planning for the summer season. In the meantime, ice skating will conclude the weekend of April 5 and 6, which will then be followed by repairs to the Center, including the Splash Pad, restrooms and other amenities. In May, the Alliance will welcome back Moliere in the Park for free performances, prior to the start of our summer season. More news to come as the transition gets underway.

Learn more about the LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

Pinkster Day Celebration in Prosepct Park

Alliance Awarded $1.5 Million from Mellon Foundation

March 12, 2025

Prospect Park Alliance has received a $1.5 million Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation to create new outdoor exhibits for Lefferts Historic House Museum as part of the Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts initiative. This initiative seeks to re-envision the mission and programming at the museum to recognize its role as a site of dispossession and enslavement, and explore the stories of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking whose unceded ancestral lands the house rests upon and the Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family.

This grant follows a $275,000 Mellon grant awarded to the Alliance in 2023, which enabled the Alliance to develop the ReImagine Lefferts Interpretive Plan, created in 2024 by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. This plan will advance our work to recognize the site’s history, connect with descendant communities and help anchor the narratives of those who have traditionally been silenced.

“ReImagine Lefferts is a critical initiative for Prospect Park Alliance, and we are greatly appreciative of the Mellon Foundation for providing the funding to make this vision possible,” said Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “As the Alliance’s first Black leader, I am honored to be ushering in a new era of recognition and celebration of the stories and histories that have been ignored for centuries. This initiative is an important step of many to help heal deep-seated wounds from our nation’s past. By bringing this interpretive plan to life, we seek to make the museum a place for healing, as well as a forum for thoughtful dialogue and learning for our community, and are grateful for our partners at the Mellon Foundation for their recognition of this essential work and its impact.” 

The interpretive plan is centered on a series of outdoor exhibits that engage park visitors. Upon entrance to the grounds, there will be large-scale panels curated by representatives from nations across the Lenape diaspora and a Dikenga Cosmogram that honors the ancient  wisdom Africans brought with them to the Americas. The plan also features outdoor exhibits about the Lenape creation story, a Freedom-Seeker wall, and spaces for live events and programs that do not shy away from the history of dispossession and enslavement, but emphasize and celebrate the inspirational resilience of descendant communities today and the ways their cultures endure. As a first step in the new interpretation, the Alliance also launched its first artist-in-residence, Adama Delphine Fawundu’s large-scale site-specific installation, Ancestral Whispers in Spring 2024.

“We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their recognition of the Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts initiative. With descendent community guidance, we created an amazing new plan to more fully commemorate Brooklyn’s Indigenous and African histories in the landscape. To now take the next step to bring it to life is transformative,” said Dylan Yeats, Ph.D. Prospect Park Alliance Director of Museum Operations and Programs. “One of the most important things we learned throughout the process is the necessity of ongoing partnerships with individuals and organizations already stewarding this living history, and it really is the brilliance, creativity and vision of our community partners that make this initiative a success. We look forward to making this plan a reality thanks to this generous funding.”

The design of the new museum interpretation will begin in the coming months, and the Alliance  looks forward to welcoming the community to the house for a workshop or series of workshops that will inform the design.

Learn more about the Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts initiative.

Alliance Begins Fire Site Restoration

March 11, 2025

Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest, over 30,000 trees, and countless native species of plants and wildlife. In November 2024, we all felt how much our cherished woodlands mean to our Brooklyn community when we experienced unprecedented drought conditions and a 2-alarm fire in a core two acres of our beloved woodland Ravine. The fire damaged all three layers of forest in the area, including overstory trees, smaller midstory trees and shrubs, and herbaceous ground cover. Thanks to an outpouring of support from our community, Prospect Park Alliance has kicked off our ongoing work to restore the site of the fire. Read more and see the Alliance’s work in-action below.

If you’ve taken a stroll through the paved paths of the Ravine in recent weeks, you may have spotted Prospect Park Alliance’s Landscape Management team in-action, working to stabilize the area using biodegradable mesh. Stabilizing the area is the first step of a multi-year restoration project developed by the Alliance’s team of ecologists, forestry technicians and arborists in collaboration with our partners at NYC Parks. “In recent weeks, parkgoers may have seen brown mesh and tubes of compressed straw covering the steeply sloped Ravine hill. This biodegradable mesh is made from plants and helps hold the soil in place and prevent erosion, and will eventually allow us to plant here” shares Prospect Park Alliance Landscape Manager, Hannah Sassoon. “The Ravine, one of the first sites of the restoration work the Alliance began in early 1990s, is a part of the “Forever Wild” area of Prospect Park, a designation that means it has rare and important native species of plants and animals.”

“The recent fire in the core of our beloved woodland Ravine highlighted the vulnerability of our city’s treasured green spaces. As extreme weather events become more common, the role of our parks in building climate resilience is more vital than ever before,” said Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support that has enabled Prospect Park Alliance to begin long-term work to restore this cherished area of Brooklyn’s Backyard. Our woodlands are a destination for respite, healing and exploration, and we thank our community for supporting the Alliance’s work to ensure that these natural areas will be sustained for generations to come.”

Prospect Park Alliance’s Landscape Management team unrolling biodegradable mesh at the site of the fire.

The team is now kicking off work to seed and plant the area with the three layers of flora needed for a diverse and healthy forest: native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. These native species include Elymus hystrix (bottlebrush grass), Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardtongue), Amelanchier canadensis (serviceberry), five different species of oak and much more. The Alliance’s work to restore this area will continue over many seasons, with dedicated care and monitoring to ensure the Ravine’s long-term health and resilience. The Alliance looks forward to volunteers joining the efforts to restore this site in the seasons to come.

Support the Alliance’s ongoing restoration work to restore the site of the fire + sustain Brooklyn’s last remaining forest.

Women’s History Month: Shirley Chisholm

March is Women’s History Month! Prospect Park Alliance is celebrating the indelible impact women have had in Prospect Park and throughout our Brooklyn community, including the powerful legacy of Brooklyn trailblazer Shirley Chisholm. A fierce advocate for civil rights, Shirley Chisholm’s inspiring legacy is one of hope for women and the Black community in Brooklyn and beyond.

Chisholm was born 1924 to Barbadian parents in Brooklyn. After spending her childhood in Barbados, she returned to Brooklyn at age ten, living much of her life in Crown Heights, to the northeast of Prospect Park and blocks away from historic Weeksville. Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn Girls’ High and later from Brooklyn College. She initially worked as a nursery school teacher in Brooklyn and earned a master’s degree in early childhood education. By 1960, she was a consultant to the New York City Division of Daycare. Even before her time in congress, Shirley fought for racial and gender equality, joining local chapters of the League of Women Voters, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League, and the Democratic Party Club in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Chisholm was a leader and an advocate for residents of Brooklyn and the country at large.

In 1968, Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Her standout achievements in Congress included working to expand access to food stamps, extending minimum wage requirements to domestic workers, and helping to pass Title IX, the landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits any sex-based discrimination in any government-funded school or education program. Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation and championed racial and gender equality throughout her time in congress. She was one of the founding members of the Black Caucus as well as one of the founding members of the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971, and became the first Black woman and second woman ever to serve on the powerful House Rules Committee in 1977.

Shirley Chisholm c. Pictorial Parade : Getty Images

c. Pictorial Parade: Getty Images

Shirley Chisolm was one of the most visible and powerful members of Congress by 1972. That same year, Representative Chisholm became the first Black major-party candidate to run for President of the United States. True to her famous slogan, “unbought and unbossed,” Chisholm refused to abandon the interests of her constituents, no matter what establishment politicians did to intimidate her or mitigate her efforts. As Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.”

During Chisholm’s quest for the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nomination, she was blocked from participating in televised primary debates, and after taking legal action, was permitted to make just one speech. Her resilience prevailed and earned her the nickname “Fighting Shirley” after Chisholm entered 12 primaries and garnered 152 of the delegates’ votes despite the extensive discrimination she faced. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983. She taught at Mount Holyoke College and co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women. Chisholm’s legacy lives on in her hometown of Brooklyn and far beyond, as she remains a national symbol of triumph and a true catalyst for change.

Two tributes to Chisholm and her legacy are coming to Brooklyn’s Backyard in the coming years. The Shirley Chisholm monument, commissioned through the She Built NYC Initiative through funding from the NYC Mayor’s office, will pay homage to Chisholm Plus, the Shirley Chisholm Pavillion made possible through funding from NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Brooklyn Delegation, led by Council Members Crystal Hudson, Rita Joseph, Shahana Hanif and former Council Majority Leader, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, will transform a former maintenance building into a space that honors Chisholm’s impact and complements the new monument.

Enjoy Prospect Park with a Winter Checklist

January 14, 2025

Brooklyn’s Backyard has fun to offer in every season, even on the coldest of days. Whether you’re looking for that perfect New Year’s resolution to lend a hand to your community this year, or searching for seasonal fun to make the most of colder temperatures, we’ve put together 7 activities in a Prospect Park Winter Checklist for a winter well-spent.

1. Sledding in Prospect Park

Both through nature and by design, Prospect Park’s landscape is dotted with rolling hills, which makes it prime territory for winter sledding on a snowy winter day. When conditions are right, make sure to check out the top sledding destinations in Brooklyn’s Backyard. See you on the next snow day!

2. Winter Birdwatching
Brush off the binoculars! While winter may seem like a quiet time, Brooklyn’s Backyard continues to be bustling with feathered friends throughout the park. Make the most of the season with leaf-less trees to spot exciting species that frequent the park in the winter. Learn more about the 250+ bird species that can be spotted in Prospect Park, and join an upcoming Saturday morning Introduction to Birdwatching Walk with the Brooklyn Bird Club.

3. Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Glide into the new year at Prospect Park’s two open-air ice skating rinks! Enjoy a day of open-air skating, take ice bumper cars for a spin, try your hand at hockey and more for cold weather fun.

4. Take a Winter Walk
If summer crowds aren’t your scene, the colder months are the perfect time of year to explore Prospect Park’s 585 acres of meadow, forest and Brooklyn’s only Lake. Take a look at our suggestion for a scenic winter walking route to take advantage of the season.

5. Volunteer in Prospect Park
Explore your park while giving back to the park you love. Join Prospect Park Alliance for Winter Corps volunteer events on Wednesdays from 10 am–1 pm through February 26. Assist in raking, minor shoveling, litter pick up, and other landscaping needs to help Brooklyn’s Backyard thrive this season.

6. Enjoy family fun at the Audubon Center
Don’t miss family friendly nature education activities! Visit the Boathouse for mid-winter recess from February 17–21 to get to know the plants and animals that call Brooklyn’s Backyard home through seasonal discovery stations, animal encounters and a winter wilderness walk and more. Plus, don’t miss upcoming school holiday hours at the Boathouse.

7. Fuel Up to Brave the Cold
Savor Prospect Park bites and eats during your time in the park. Stop by the two new Prospect Park concessions that opened in 2024—Poetica Coffee at the Willink Plaza Entrance of the park, or Purslane Cafe at the Prospect Park Boathouse. Don’t forget about the delicious pastries and sandwiches from WINNER, the authentic breakfast tacos from King David’s Tacos or a warm drink from Bluestone Cafe. Plus, keep an eye out for Lark by the Park in the Spring and check out fresh, locally grown produce and more at GrowNYC’s two year-round greenmarkets in Prospect Park.

Complete your 2025 Winter Checklist? Learn more about more upcoming events in Prospect Park.

c. Martin Seck

Alliance Launches Bloomberg Connects Guide

January 8, 2025

Want to explore Brooklyn’s Backyard from anywhere in the world? A virtual guide to Prospect Park is now live on the free arts and culture app, Bloomberg Connects. Bloomberg Connects is a source for accessible and interactive guides to hundreds of cultural spaces, museums, and more from around the world.

Whether on the ground in the park or miles away, explore Prospect Park’s history, architecture and more through images, audio guides and more—all from the palm of your hand. The Prospect Park Bloomberg Connects Guide includes virtual self-guided tours on the park’s history, and key destinations for architecture and landscape architecture, each with an interactive map to help locate featured destinations throughout the park.

The guide also features audio tours on the park’s natural areas, offering an inside look at the park’s woodlands and waterways, and even hosts a collection of acoustic recordings of the park’s trees, soil and waterways through an Underground Soundwalk. Whether you’re looking for a guided walk through key destinations in Prospect Park to explore key highlights in person or eager to learn more about our green oasis from miles away, the guide can be enjoyed from near and far. Plus, check out upcoming Alliance programming, ways to get involved in volunteering, membership and more to make the most of the park you love.

Download the app and start exploring Brooklyn’s Backyard from anywhere in the world.

Learn more about the guide for self-guided exploration + how to book an in-person, guided park tour with Turnstile Tours: prospectpark.org/tours.

Re:New Prospect Park’s Successful 2024

December 10, 2024

Have you spotted new improvements throughout Prospect Park this year? Prospect Park Alliance’s Re:New Prospect Park has been in full swing in 2024 throughout Brooklyn’s Backyard. Launched in 2021 to serve our Brooklyn community in light of reduced City resources and increased use of the park, the Alliance utilizes private funding to undertake important infrastructure work traditionally undertaken by the City. Through this initiative, the Alliance has completed a range of essential projects across the park over the past four years to improve the daily visitor experience in the park. The initiative also includes the Alliance’s partnership with ACE New York to provide additional cleaning crews in the park from spring through fall.

Check out the Alliance’s transformative 2024 projects, including drainage improvements, path restorations and more. The Alliance also thanks our community for your generous support to make these Re:New Prospect Park improvements possible.

Plus, your support today can make double the difference! Your gift of any size will be matched by a generous Alliance supporter to make 2X the impact to make improvements like these possible.

Drainage Improvements Near Wellhouse Drive

Re:New 2024 Welhouse Drive

In October, Prospect Park Alliance completed drainage repairs on the bridle path near Wellhouse Drive which included reconstructing two catch basins and installing new pipes to connect the path to the Lake to help stormwater runoff.

Drainage Improvements Near Eastwood Arch 

Re:New Drainage Improvements Near Eastwood Arch

Near Eastwood Arch, an area severely eroded by Storm Ophelia in September 2023, Prospect Park Alliance restored the catch basin along the Park Drive, built a new curb and repaved the surface. These improvements will help with drainage, protect the area from erosion and ensure that the landscape can be sustained in the face of severe storms. 

Drainage Improvements Near Grand Army Plaza Entrance

The Alliance restored three catch basins on the west side of the Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park to help improve drainage at this heavily used destination. 

10th Avenue Lawn Drainage Improvements

In Summer 2024, the Alliance completed drainage repairs at the 10th Avenue Lawn in Prospect Park. The improvements included draining water from the area, improving the drainage system by replacing catch basins and repairing the lawn.

Improvements Near the Carousel + Prospect Park Zoo 

If you’ve taken the Carousel for a spin this season, you may have seen improvements to the paths alongside this beloved park destination. The Alliance reconstructed two catch basins and repaved these well-used pathways to improve access for our community. To guard against the severe impacts from flooding, the Alliance also focused efforts on clearing four catch basins near the back gate of the Prospect Park Zoo to improve drainage in the area.

Repairs Near Harmony Playground

The Alliance also improved drainage near the park’s Harmony Playground, which recently was improved with a new sunshade and expanded adult fitness area, repairing catch basins and repaving pathways.

Music Pagoda + Binnen Bridge

Prospect Park Alliance focused efforts on the highly utilized path between the Music Pagoda and Binnen Bridge. To help keep the area clear of water and debris, the Alliance repaved the path and reset a catch basin to help capture stormwater.

Third Street Entrance + Long Meadow to Third Street

North of the Third Street Entrance to Prospect Park, the Alliance cleared catch basins as a first step of our ongoing work to help alleviate drainage issues and improve the visitor experience for our community. Plus, Prospect Park Alliance cleared drains inside the Third Street Playground and cleared sewer lines from the playground to the Long Meadow to improve drainage.

Lakeshore + White Levy Esplanade

The serene view along Brookly’s only Lake has gotten even more scenic, as the Alliance repointed brick and stone at the Leon Levy White Esplanade, regrouted stone along retaining walls and more to improve accessibility for our community to enjoy the landscape’s  one-of-a-kind view of the Lake and its wildlife inhabitants, including varieties of turtles and ducks.

Concert Grove

Near the historic Prospect Park Concert Grove, the Alliance reconstructed the iron railing and reset stone pieces along the time-honored park destination, home to our recently restored Concert Grove Pavilion.

Visit our Capital Projects Tracker for more improvements underway in Brooklyn’s Backyard.