Author: Cornershop

Summer from the Archives

December 8, 2015

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On a sunny summer afternoon, upon entering the Park at Grand Army Plaza, the view wouldn’t be all that different. (Although the Plaza was limited to horse-drawn carriages back then.) Loungers would still occupy grassy patches of the Long Meadow, and bicyclists could still be seen circling the Park Drive. However, the Long Meadow was also dotted with sheep in the 1890s – their presence was both utilitarian and aesthetic in choice; they kept the lawn trimmed, and the Park’s designers Olmsted and Vaux sought to emulate the look of an English countryside.

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Should your 1890 Park visit coincide with May Day – a now largely forgotten holiday celebrating the arrival of spring – on the first of May, you could find yourself literally wrapped up in a Maypole on the Long Meadow.

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After a long day spent at the Long Meadow enjoying the beautiful summer weather, rather than venture out of the Park to a bodega for a drink or snack, Park goers in 1890 could stay in the Park and head to the Dairy – a spot of shaded reprieve where patrons could sip fresh milk from one of the Park’s in-house dairy cows.

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Of course things have changed. Brooklyn now boasts over two million residents, and the Park receives over 10 million visitors annually. But there’s still no better way to spend a summer weekend afternoon than in Prospect Park.

c. Daisy Lane Paul

Painted Bunting Spotted in Prospect Park

December 2, 2015

Winter may be on the horizon, but that’s not stopping one particularly colorful character from making a stopover in Prospect Park, a National Audubon-designated Important Bird Area. The now-famous male painted bunting was spotted near the LeFrak Center at Lakeside this week, and local media outlets and bird-lovers alike have converged to catch a glimpse. And with good reason: while less-colorful female painted buntings have been spotted in the area as recently as 2011, this is the first recorded sighting of a male painted bunting in Brooklyn in recent memory.

The multi-colored member of the cardinal family is likely bound for Florida or Central America for the winter, but was drawn to this area of the Park due to an abundance of shelter and seeds to forage and eat. As part of the creation of Lakeside, one of the Park’s newest attractions and the most ambitious restoration project in the history of the Park, the Prospect Park Alliance transformed a 300-spot parking lot into an additional three acres of green space and wildlife habitat – a perfect respite for migrating bird species like the painted bunting. Learn more about the Alliance’s  environmental preservation work and about birdwatching activities in the Park.

Protecting Prospect Park’s Wildlife

November 24, 2015

A wide variety of wildlife call Prospect Park home. In conjunction with FIDO in Brooklyn, WILD for Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Bird Club, the Prospect Park Alliance has recently taken a step toward protecting the health of the Park’s many wild residents.

The Alliance installed twelve fishing line recycling containers around the Lakeshore, where fishers can responsibly dispose of their fishing line. Improperly discarded fishing line and hooks can pose a serious injury risk to both wildlife and pets. Aquatic wildlife is especially at risk, due to their proximity to areas where fishing line is discarded. These containers were funded and constructed by FIDO and will be regularly maintained by WILD.

As a National Audubon-designated Important Bird Area, Prospect Park supports over 200 species of birds, as well as fish, turtles and other wildlife. Recreational fishers can help protect wildlife by placing used fishing line in one of the new recycling containers. Learn more about fishing in Prospect Park.

Celebrate Quilting

November 17, 2015

Tucked in amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City exists a thriving quilting community. For the third consecutive year, the Alliance is teaming up with the Brooklyn Quilters’ Guild to bring the outstanding work of its talented local artists to the Park.

“Lefferts has played a steady role in Brooklyn quilting for the past two decades,” says Maria Carrasco, Vice President of Public Programs with the Prospect Park Alliance. Quilting exhibits from various organizations have long called Lefferts Historic House home.

Longtime fans of the medium as well as curious first-timers will enjoy the craftsmanship and storytelling present in all 18 quilts in the exhibit, Celebration, whose quilters represent a diversity of cultures and backgrounds. Through November 29, join the Alliance at Lefferts Historic House to admire these original creations, which range from traditional to mixed media fiber art.

After exploring Celebration, elementary-school-aged quilting connoisseurs are encouraged to contribute to the community patchwork paper quilt, which highlights the creativity and talents of younger local artists.

Celebration caps off with a celebration of its own. November 29 marks the Lefferts Historic House annual celebration, Winter on a Flatbush Farm, and features an appearance by St. Nicholas, as well as traditional homemade Dutch treats to eat, made over an open fire.

PPA Profiles: Tom Meany

While many of the city’s runners are headed into the holidays with rest and rejuvenation on their minds, the same can’t be said for Prospect Park Track Club (PPTC) President and lifelong Brooklynite Tom Meany. With the help of a team of dedicated volunteers, Meany is busy preparing for one of the most beloved events on Brooklyn’s running calendar, the Turkey Trot, which has been organized by the PPTC since 1995 and takes place on Thanksgiving Day.

For many Brooklyn families, the five-mile Turkey Trot is a holiday tradition, with a dedicated—and diverse—core of annual runners. “You have a lot of kids home from college, local high school runners, people dressed up like pilgrims and turkeys, and even people who only run one race each year, this one,” says Meany.

While this year’s race is sold out, it is well worth coming out to watch the runners and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Meany recommends fans arrive before the 9 am start, and come prepared to cheer. “The best area for spectators is right around the LeFrak Center at Lakeside,” he advises, “where you can see the two-mile mark as well as easily watch the finish.”

A nine-time New York City one-time Boston marathoner (“New York City’s better, no contest”), Meany’s passion for both running and Prospect Park are infectious, especially when speaking about the Park’s transformation in the years since the founding of the Alliance. When Track Club was founded in 1970, its namesake park was rarely utilized as a training ground. “Guys were afraid to go into the Park but there weren’t pedestrian lanes on the surrounding streets, it was chaos,” recalls Meany.

After years of working with the Alliance, most notably as a member of the Park’s community committee and on a road-sharing taskforce, Meany says club members now delight at the running oasis the Park has become. Not only does the 3.35-mile Drive and its rolling hills challenge athletes, but also, he says, “it’s just beautiful.”

The PPTC hosts races, group runs, social outings and more. Meany encourages those interested in joining PPTC to visit their website. Members range in experience from beginning runners to elite-level marathoners, and all are welcome.

Learn more about running in Prospect Park.

Broomball Comes to the LeFrak Center at Lakeside

The ice is now open at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, and winter sport enthusiasts of all ages have already converged to curl, skate and play hockey on its 32,000 square feet of skating rinks.

But what about those without a background on the ice? This year, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside introduces an exciting, skate-free alternative: broomball.

Played on ice but in sneakers, this popular Midwestern sport is essentially hockey without skates. Instead of a puck, competitors aim to shoot a ball into the opposition’s goal. And as the name suggests, brooms replace hockey sticks.

“It’s a great option for those who don’t know how to skate to participate in hockey,” says Shanley Pascal, recreation manager at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

Teams are comprised of 10+ players, but only six are on the ice at a time: a goalie, two forwards, a center and two defenders. Game play is fun and fast paced. Expect lots of goals during a match’s two 15- or 30-minute halves.

Broomball is ideal for those caught up in the excitement of professional hockey’s return to Brooklyn with the New York Islanders. Following matches, get to know your teammates over post-broomball beers. (The league is 21 and over.) Grab some friends or register as a free agent and join the broomball league at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside today. 

Giving Thanks

What better way to give thanks and honor a loved one this season than with the gift of a commemorative tree in Prospect Park? From around the Park, here are stories of three families, their trees and the people they honor. 

Learn More.

Stroud Playground Featured in The New York Times

November 13, 2015

The Prospect Park Alliance and its support of the City’s Community Parks Initiative is featured in The New York Times, in connect with the pro-bono design services that the Alliance is providing to redesign Stroud Playground in neighboring Crown Heights. The Alliance has committed to providing pro-bono design services for three CPI projects, with two other projects to be determined in the coming year. The Community Parks Initiative is a multi-faceted investment in smaller public parks located in dense and growing neighborhoods with higher-than-average concentrations of poverty. Stroud marks the Alliance’s first major design project outside Prospect Park. 

PPA Profile: Chevoun Anthony

November 12, 2015

Regulars to the Prospect Park Tennis Center usually know Chevoun Anthony. They might not know that she moved to Flatlands, Brooklyn from Guyana in 1986. Nine years ago she began working at the Prospect Park Tennis Center, where she greeted guests and booked courts at the front desk. Her warm smile and attention to detail quickly earned her a position assisting with bookkeeping and customer service, and eventually to her current role as Front Desk Supervisor.

Though she lives in Flatlands with her husband and three kids, they still make time to visit Prospect Park for barbequing, ice skating and the occasional walk-a-thon. On Sundays, Chevoun likes to listen to the musicians at Drummers Grove, or picnic near the rustic arbors on the lake. Her family’s biggest champion of Prospect Park is her youngest son, who is an enthusiastic player in the Tennis Center’s Junior Development program.

Chevoun’s favorite part of working at the Tennis Center is the constant guest interactions. “I love meeting new people, seeing familiar faces and watching the kids play tennis,” she said, “I didn’t expect to stay at the Park for nine years, but it is such a great atmosphere with good people. Coming to work is a joy.”      

Prospect Park Alliance Featured on NYC TV

October 23, 2015

Join TV host Dave Evans on a tour of things to do in Prospect Park! $9.99 with Dave Evans, an NYC Life program that highlights the best free or low-cost activities in the city, devoted a recent episode to Prospect Park. This episode highlights Prospect Park Alliance activities at Lefferts Historic House, the Audubon Center, the Carousel, Lakeside, and the Tennis Center, and also features an interview with Alliance President Sue Donoghue. Although it aired last week, the episode can be watched online at the NYC Media website.

Visit our calendar to learn about upcoming programs in Prospect Park.