Lakeside's landscape restoration will: Restore unobstructed access to Prospect Lake and its shoreline Reclaim Music Island, demoli- shed to create Wollman Rink, as a wildlife sanctuary Return 26 acres of land surroun- ding the Lake to its original design Expand and diversify the natural habitat of the Lake and its shoreline Recover five acres of soil-choked lake bed and correct shallow water deficits

Lakeside restores the Olmsted and Vaux vision while fostering a greener environment.

It was said of Prospect Park’s landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted that he was “an artist [who] paints with lakes and wooded slopes; with lawns and banks and forest covered hills.”

The Lakeside project will now return the lakeshore to its original elegance (see images below), which was sacrificed with the construction of the rink in 1960.

Once again, as intended, a graceful curved access to the water’s edge will frame natural vistas and invite exploration. The ecology of native flora and fauna, the majesty of nesting birds and the lure of schools of fish and tadpoles will renew connections to nature.

Click here to see the site plans. 

View to Music Island, 1930s

Same view now – Wollman Rink 


Same view at the completion of the project