Author: Cornershop

c. Paul Martinka

PPA Profiles: Rafe Shaffer

September 2, 2014

There are few people more passionate and knowledgeable about the Park’s illustrious past than Rafe Shaffer, the Supervising Educator at the Lefferts Historic House. Rafe grew up in Park Slope and has spent a lot of time exploring the trails, woodlands, hills and history of Prospect Park.

“I never imagined I’d work in Prospect Park,” he explained. A graduate of Brooklyn College with a degree in anthropology, he has worked with the Alliance at Lefferts Historic House for three and a half years, starting his senior year of college and working his way to becoming a supervising educator. Rafe is passionate about history and sharing knowledge about the past. Built by a Dutch family in the 18th century farming village of Flatbush and brought to the Park in the early 20th century, Lefferts features a working garden, historic artifacts, period rooms and exhibits. Visiting the house, you can find Rafe leading tours, organizing educational programs and greeting visitors at the museum’s teaching garden.

“My favorite thing about working at Lefferts is the joy you see on children’s faces as they play with toys from the past,” said Rafe. “They don’t even realize that they’re learning. And it’s a really powerful thing to watch. They might not remember the year this house was built or the names of the people who lived here, but they will always remember making butter and apple pie over an open fire.”

Meet Rafe at the upcoming Lefferts Historic House public programs, such as the second-floor tours, hearth cooking or the Harvest Festival on September 28. Learn more about Alliance programs at Lefferts Historic House.

Lefferts was also named a top destination for children’s birthday parties by Time Out New York, with ice-cream making, potato sack races and other historic fun. Have your child’s next birthday party at Lefferts.

c. Karen O'Hearn

Enjoy Fall Migration in Prospect Park

With over 200 species of birds spotted in Prospect Park each year, bird watching is one of the more tranquil ways to enjoy the Park, and September is peak season for fall migration. The Park’s location along the Atlantic Flyway led to its designation as an important birding area by the National Audubon Society, and the creation of the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first of its kind in an urban park.

If you own a pair of binoculars, a bird guide and an adventurous spirit, take a stroll through Prospect Park and try to spot the wide variety of southbound birds, such as the aptly named “Yellow-Rumped Warbler” (see photo), which begins to migrate through Prospect Park in mid-September. One of our favorite bird watching routes begins at the Boathouse. Head over the Lullwater Bridge, then turn right on the woodchip path. Follow the trail around to the Peninsula where you might find Pine Warblers, Red Starts, as well as Baltimore Orioles. After a stroll around the Peninsula, hike up Lookout Hill to see if you can spot migrating raptors and more.

If bird watching is a newer interest, or first time endeavor, join the Prospect Park Alliance for a range of bird watching programs through its Audubon Center. The Brooklyn Bird Club leads an introduction to bird watching on Saturdays at noon, and early morning bird walks the first Sunday of the month at 8 am. Children and their caregivers can enjoy Blooming Naturalists, which takes place every Thursday and Friday at 1 pm, Family Bird Watching the second Saturday of every month at 10 am, and also Pop-Up Audubon, which takes place at locations throughout the park every Saturday and Sunday. The theme for September’s Pop-Up Audubon is Radical Raptors, and don’t miss out on Raptor Fest, the annual Alliance and Urban Park Rangers event on Sunday, October 5, which features hawks, falcons, owls and other birds of prey.

Check out our Events Calendar for more information on bird watching in Prospect Park. Spot any interesting birds? Share your photos with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with hashtag #prospectparkbirds.

c. Michael Moran/OTTO

LeFrak Center Celebrates Success

September 1, 2014

Prospect Park holds a special place for many Brooklynites, and it is through the support of the community that the Prospect Park Alliance is able to achieve its founding mission: the restoration, preservation and long-term stewardship of this urban treasure. Lakeside is not only the most ambitious project in Prospect Park since its creation nearly 150 years ago, but also an important example of how the Alliance and the City work in partnership to make a great Park greater.

Lakeside has become a year-round destination for tens of thousands of Brooklynites, who are enjoying ice skating, roller skating and water play, as well as scenic new landscapes and a transformed lakeshore. The project has not only won the hearts of Brooklynites, but also has been recognized for its success. Recently, Lakeside was awarded a MASterworks Award for Best Urban Amenity by the Municipal Art Society of New York and also an Award for Excellence in Design by the New York City Public Design Commission.

On October 1, the Alliance will honor the family of Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak at the 2014 Prospect Park Alliance Gala. The LeFrak’s gift to the Alliance ensures the ongoing care of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which was made possible through the generosity of the Park’s dedicated elected officials, the Alliance Board of Directors, and support from a range of corporations, foundations and individuals.

“The LeFrak family has deep roots in Brooklyn, and their philanthropy goes back more than 100 years,” said James Snow, Interim President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “Their support of Lakeside is proof that investing in the future of Prospect Park is investing in the Brooklyn community. Since opening last December, Lakeside has served a wide range of communities that consider Prospect Park their backyard.”

Summer fun at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is in full swing, so don’t miss out! How much has Lakeside added to your enjoyment of Prospect Park? Share your experiences with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #prospectpark.

PPA Profiles: Lucio Schiavone

August 1, 2014

Originally from a small town outside of Naples, Italy, Lucio Schiavone, manager of the Prospect Park Carousel, moved to New York in 1963 after he married his wife, an American he met in his hometown.

“When I first saw my wife, she was up in a tree eating figs,” he recounted with chuckle. Having attended the Academy of Art in Italy, he pursued a career as a painter and sculptor. Lucio was hired by the Prospect Park Alliance in 1988 to assist in the restoration of the 1912 Carousel. He carefully painted each horse with a team of two other craftspeople. After several weeks, the renovation was complete and the carousel was re-opened to the public.

The Alliance soon realized they needed someone to maintain these new improvements, as well as perform the daily operations of the amusement. Lucio was their first choice. In addition to operating the attraction for tens of thousands of children each year, he performs weekly maintenance on this antique machine, climbing a thick black ladder up into the machinery to keep it well oiled. Once a year he gives the horses a fresh coat of paint, and every few weeks he changes the sheet music on the band organ.

Lucio let us in on three secrets of the Prospect Park Carousel. The first is that Morgan, the black stallion, is the leader and the favorite of all the horses. The second is that the scandalous mermaid (another favorite) isn’t part of the original carousel. A local resident donated the ornament during the restoration. The third secret is that he’s stayed at the carousel for nearly 25 years because of the kids. “They are so happy when they come here. It makes me happy when I see them. I just love that. I love to be here, and I love what I do.”

This month, the Alliance is offering free carousel rides on Thursdays for children 12 and under, through the support of Astoria Bank. You can take your family on the carousel for free year round with the Prospect Park Alliance Family Plus membership. And don’t forget to check out the Carousel t-shirt!

c. Martin Seck

Alliance Launches Fight the Phrag

The Prospect Park Alliance and more than 100 volunteers from Goldman Sachs came together on August 1 to launch Fight the Phrag, a new campaign to remove an invasive species of wetland grass that has dominated the shoreline of Brooklyn’s only lake—an important wildlife habitat and scenic destination in Prospect Park.

Phragmites grows densely along the Lake’s shoreline, up to a height of 18 feet, so removing this hardy species is no easy task. Led by the Alliance’s Landscape Management crew, volunteers used black plastic landscaping fabric to tamp down the tall grass, denying it of sunlight and forcing it to use its reserved energy. Once the sheeting is removed, the Alliance will install native plantings to create new habitat for wildlife.

Goldman Sachs is a longtime supporter of the Alliance’s restoration efforts, funding a range of projects and providing thousands of volunteer efforts through Community TeamWorks, the firm’s global volunteer initiative that allows people to take a day out of the office to connect and volunteer with local non-profit organizations.

“The Goldman Sachs team is thrilled to be here to support this initiative” says Peter Dowling, Associate at Goldman Sachs. “Through great initiatives like Fight the Phrag, our people get a chance to work hard as a team to make a difference in the community. It is great to see the results at the end of day.”

Fight the Phrag is the latest phase of the Alliance’s long-term revitalization plan to restore Prospect Park’s woodlands and natural areas. The Alliance has restored the Ravine, the last remaining forest in Brooklyn, as well as its historic waterways, including waterfalls, pools and rustic bridges.

Fight the Phrag initiative will continue this month through the Weekend Woodland Corps. Sign up for the August 16 or 23 session, or donate to the Alliance to help support this effort.

Dreamland Disco Comes to LeFrak Center

Straight from the Coney Island boardwalk, Lola Star’s Dreamland Disco has found a new home at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, offering a retro theme and stellar entertainment on Friday nights this month. Dreamland Disco delivers a vintage vibe, from Saturday Night Fever to Ziggy Stardust. Skaters are encouraged to come in costume and strut their roller dancing skills for prizes.

Dreamland Disco is expected to become a summer mainstay, bringing Brooklynites together from around the borough. The series is the brainchild of Ditmas Park resident Dianna Carling, aka Lola Star. With an infectious love of roller skating, Star launched the series at Coney Island in 2008. When the Coney Island rink closed two year later, she was determined to relaunch it. Her dreams were realized with the opening of Brooklyn’s premier skating rink at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park.

Each week a new theme will shape the roller rink dreamscape, with special Coney Island-esque performances and retro DJ sets. The Dreamland Disco ends on August 29, so don’t miss out!

Check out the Dreamland Roller Disco schedule on the LeFrak Center Calendar of Events

From the Archives: Battle of Brooklyn

Long before designers Olmsted and Vaux reshaped the topography to create Prospect Park, the lowland hills of Brooklyn served as the stage of the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brooklyn, which took place August 27, 1776. The chain of hills ran more than 100 miles and stood between 100 and 150 feet overlooking long, open flatlands. The area was covered with thick forest and brush. There were only four passes that cut through this rocky ridge, including Flatbush Pass in what is now Prospect Park.   

Read an account of the Battle of Brooklyn. 

c. Martin Seck

Water, Water Everywhere!

July 1, 2014

Summer is heating up in Prospect Park, and with plenty of water-filled fun, it is the perfect place to cool off. At the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, enjoy a serene afternoon exploring Brooklyn’s only lake and take in scenic views of the White Levy Esplanade and Chaim Baier Music Island. 

Is water play more your family’s speed? In addition to the great water features located in the Park’s playgrounds, there’s a new place for children to soak up the summer fun. Open seven days a week, the new Splash Pad at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside has more than 40 sprays to cool down on a hot day. Before cooling off, work up a sweat roller skating around the covered rink, with new programs this summer including Toddler Tuesdays. Afterwards, enjoy some frozen treats from the LeFrak Center’s Bluestone Café and take in the park views and lake breeze.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, families can also enjoy the Pop-Up Audubon Macy’s Fishing Clinics at the White Levy Esplanade at Lakeside and across the Lake at Wellhouse Drive. This family-friendly clinic will teach children how to tie a fishing knot, cast a line, and even collect their own bait.

With boating, water play and catch-and-fishing to enjoy, this might be the best Prospect Park summer yet. Share the fun on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at #prospectparksummer. We’ll select the best summer images for our Photo of the Week.

c. Chasi Annexy

New York Philharmonic Returns to Prospect Park

There are few things that could make Prospect Park even more enchanting and serene, but the New York Philharmonic will do just that on July 9 when they kick off their annual Concerts in the Parks in Prospect Park. Since 1965, the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks have been an iconic summer experience, transforming parks throughout the boroughs into outdoor concert halls.

Bring your friends and family, and a blanket, for a perfect evening of music and nature. The program, led by Music Director Alan Gilbert, will feature Don Juan by Strauss and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. A fireworks display will follow the performance.

The Movable Feast Café at the Picnic House will be open noon until 9 pm, so Philharmonic fans can purchase wraps, coffee, and sweet treats to enjoy at the performance, including Maximo Pino Gelato and Sorbetto.

Prospect Park Alliance members at the Arborist level and above enjoy VIP seating, so become a member today!

PPA Profiles: Justine Heilner

Formerly a landscape architect at the acclaimed James Corner Field Operations, Justine Heilner was instrumental in the design of the city’s newest park, the celebrated High Line on Manhattan’s West Side. She recently joined the Alliance’s Design and Construction Office as the Senior Landscape Architect, supervising many of the new and ongoing improvement projects around Prospect Park.

A Brooklynite at heart, Justine and her family live in Park Slope, and consider the Park part of their everyday lives. This perspective has given her a good understanding about how the Park is used, and the challenges of maintaining its beauty. “We need to design the Park’s landscapes so they can take a good amount of traffic” she explained. “Prospect Park is a place that’s so loved, it can get loved to death.”

Justine is joining the Alliance at the tail end of Lakeside, one of the Park’s most ambitious restoration projects. She is currently overseeing the reconstruction of the Park Drive at Lakeside, which will improve pedestrian access to the LeFrak Center and make the Drive safer for all Park users.

Prospect Park has presented Justine with new and welcome challenges as a landscape architect. There is a modest budget to improve and maintain hundreds of acres of meadows, streams, woodlands and bodies of water. Drainage is one of the greatest challenges in the Park, particularly following the more severe weather patterns that have come with climate change. In her work, Justine is constantly considering how to incorporate more sophisticated design solutions into a historic landscape.

We look forward to seeing Justine’s work as the Alliance moves ahead with its next big focus, restoring the northeast perimeter and the Vale of Cashmere.