NYC Parks Art in the Parks program and Prospect Park Alliance, the nonprofit that operates the park in partnership with the City, present The Journey by Risha Gorig. This site-specific installation, on the shoreline of the Prospect Park Lullwater near the park’s historic Boathouse, is on view through August 31, 2026.

Meet the artist and explore the installation at the Prospect Park Alliance Earth Day Celebration on Sunday, April 19. Learn more and RSVP!

The Journey depicts a flock of neon-pink kinetic birds suspended 15 feet in the air, wings catching and releasing with the wind. The work deploys allegory and ingenious engineering in equal measure, conjuring the act of migration as both literal phenomenon and lived condition.

The installation is a reminder that destination may change, but the search for sanctuary is a universal experience. During spring and fall migration, Prospect Park serves as a critical waypoint along the Atlantic Flyway for over 250 kinds of bird species, and is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest and only lake. It is also “Brooklyn’s Backyard,” welcoming more than 10 million visitors each year. The Boathouse is home to many of the Alliance’s nature exploration programs as the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.

“Bringing thought-provoking public artwork like The Journey to our public parks both enhances our public realm and sparks conversations among New Yorkers. This inventive installation speaks to Prospect Park’s critical role as a habitat for diverse wildlife and invites visitors to reflect on our connections to the natural world,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We’re pleased to work with Risha Gorig and our partners at the Prospect Park Alliance to bring this art to ‘Brooklyn’s Backyard,’ and we look forward to welcoming New Yorkers to visit the installation soon.”

“We are thrilled to partner with our colleagues at NYC Parks to bring Risha’s revelatory work to Prospect Park,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco. “As both a cultural destination and a haven for nature and wildlife, Prospect Park is the ideal setting for The Journey, and underscores our commitment to art and nature.”

Gorig describes her practice as being drawn to the place where urban landscape and nature converge, and speaks on the fragility of that coexistence. Raised in Munich by a family of artists, she transmutes difficult subject matter through play and curiosity. “Life can be harsh, beautiful, but cruel at times,” says artist Risha Gorig. “Surviving in urban landscapes such as our cities is hard for everybody—animals and humans alike. To find food and shelter and a place to call home is what we all strive for.”

Risha Gorig is a Brooklyn based multi-media artist/composer/and choreographer. She has worked with site specific outdoor projects, performance, dance, and video installations. She combines many of these elements which mix technology with fragility of humanity. She is interested in metaphors of time, death, and life. Gorig has presented site-specific installations in the Flatiron District and Union Square in New York (2025) and solo exhibitions at Galerie De Miguel, Munich, Germany (2001), Foraum, Munich, Germany (1998), and Zeitelvilla, Munich, Germany (1998). Her work has been included in group exhibitions at Space 414 Garden, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY (2009), “Parallel Worlds,” ScalaMATA Exhibition Space, Venice, as part of the Venice Biennale (2009), Marktoberdorf Museum, Germany (2009), Art In Spite Of It All, New York, NY (2008), Apexart, New York, NY (2008), Fulton Park Brooklyn Bridge Group Show, Brooklyn, NY (2000), Fountain, Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn, NY (1999), and Visual Aids, New York, NY (2001), among others. She has performed at Dixon Place, New York, NY (2012), Knitting Factory, New York, NY (2012), The Gowanus Canal Art Space, Brooklyn, NY (2010), Foley Square, Manhattan, NY (2008), Parkside Lounge, New York, NY (2013), and Rawartshow, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY (2013). Learn more about her work at rishagorigart.com.

NYC DOT, NYC Parks + Prospect Park Alliance Break Ground on Transformative Improvements to Prospect Park East Side Perimeter

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn, Prospect Park Alliance President and NYC Parks Administrator Morgan Monaco, Council Member Rita Joseph and advocates and today broke ground on a transformative project to restore and upgrade the Prospect Park perimeter along Ocean and Parkside Avenues, from Empire Boulevard to Parade Place.

This $15.5 million project, overseen by the Alliance, the nonprofit that operates the park in partnership with the city, will add a sidewalk-grade, two-way protected bike lane along the Ocean Avenue park perimeter, and completely redesign the entrance to Prospect Park at Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue, creating a new pedestrian plaza featuring a monument to Brooklyn trailblazer Shirley Chisholm. This project extends the improvements to the park’s eastern perimeter begun in 2020 with the restoration of the Flatbush Avenue perimeter, which created two new entrances to the park, the first since the 1940s.

“Having safe access to Prospect Park is a priority for everyone who calls Brooklyn home. Families from across the city walk and bike to Brooklyn’s backyard, and with so much foot traffic, the park’s adjacent streets must be calm and focused on people,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Since we’ve removed private vehicles from Prospect Park in 2018, the results have been transformative—and allow us to deliver a brand-new pedestrian-friendly entrance at Ocean and Parkside with a new monument honoring Brooklyn’s own Shirley Chisholm.”

“Across the five boroughs, our public parks and greenways form a vital living infrastructure network, helping New Yorkers connect with nature and travel safely throughout the city. This project is an example of how investing in our parks makes our city healthier, more welcoming, and more accessible,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “I’m grateful to our partners at NYC DOT, DCLA, and the Prospect Park Alliance for their collaboration as we work to improve ‘Brooklyn’s Backyard’ for all New Yorkers.”

“Given the success of our restoration of the Flatbush Avenue perimeter, we are thrilled to be partnering with the NYC DOT on the restoration of the Ocean Avenue perimeter, including the new protected bike lane, as well as with the DCLA to bring this landmark monument to Shirley Chisholm to our Parkside entrance,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance president and NYC Parks administrator.

“Upgrading the entrance to Prospect Park at Ocean and Parkside Avenues is an investment for Brooklyn communities,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Prospect Park is our backyard, and every Brooklynite deserves to access it safely and with pride. Honoring Shirley Chisholm at this gateway is a powerful reminder of the legacy rooted right here in our borough. Thank you to the Mayor’s Office, NYC Parks, NYC DOT, and the Prospect Park Alliance for working with the community and making sure this vision reflects the people it serves.”

“This groundbreaking marks a powerful investment in the future of our city. I am proud to have invested $1.6 million to help transform the perimeter of Prospect Park into a safer, more accessible space for pedestrians, cyclists, and families. Investing in infrastructure, especially around our parks, is an investment in public health, safety, and the well-being of our communities,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “This project not only enhances connectivity and equity along Ocean and Parkside Avenues, but also honors the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, a Brooklyn trailblazer whose impact continues to inspire us all. This is what it looks like when we build a city that prioritizes people, celebrates history, and creates spaces where everyone belongs.”

Perimeter Restoration + Protected Bike Lane
The project will restore the park perimeter along Ocean and Parkside Avenues from Empire Boulevard to Parade Place, and includes the installation of a two-way, sidewalk-grade protected bike lane along the park side of Ocean Avenue, where there is currently no cycling infrastructure. The lane will provide a critical link to the parking-protected bike lanes already in place along Flatbush and Parkside avenues and will connect to the Prospect Park Drive, a popular recreational destination. The perimeter restoration will feature reconstructed sidewalks bordered by an allée of trees, and new historic lighting, seating, and trash cans. Future improvements along Parkside Avenue will take place through $1 million in funding from Council Member Rita Joseph, who also allocated funding for the restoration of a pergola at the entrance.

New Plaza and Public Art
The perimeter restoration will establish a new plaza at the entrance of Prospect Park at Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue, and new bike connections between the two streets and the Park Drive. The redesigned space will formally close the park entrance to motorized vehicle traffic–-reflecting that non-essential vehicles were banned from the park in 2018–-allowing for the creation of the new plaza. As part of the next phase of the project, the city will install a new public artwork in the space, a monument honoring Shirley Chisholm, a Brooklyn-born daughter of immigrant parents from Barbados and Guyana, who became the first African American woman to serve in Congress as well as run for U.S. President. The Alliance will also be transforming a disused building near the entrance into the Shirley Chisholm Pavilion, which will feature restrooms and exhibit panels, and is funded through the New York City Council and Assembly Member Brian Cunningham. This project is currently in the design phase, and is slated for construction in 2027.

The project includes $8.2 million in funding from NYC DOT, $1.25 million from the Department of Cultural Affairs, and $1 million from NYC Parks. The Brooklyn Borough President’s office has contributed $3.5 million, and City Council District 40 has contributed $1.6 million.

The project will take about 18 months to complete. Prospect Park Alliance will implement the restoration in six, 800-foot phases, beginning at the Empire Boulevard terminus at Ocean Avenue and also in tandem at Parkside Avenue, with the pedestrian plaza at the Parkside Avenue entrance and new monument as the final phase.

Learn more about this project.

This year, a familiar sight graced some of the park’s most beloved community destinations: Brooklyn teens in our Woodlands Youth Crew and Park Youth Representatives have been hard at work caring for our natural areas and engaging our community at Lefferts Historic House and the Prospect Park Audubon Center.

Applying to high school? Learn more about our partner BASE High School and how it supports the next generation of green leaders. Register for an Open House today! 

The Woodlands Youth Crew (WYC) is an essential part of the Alliance’s work to restore and sustain Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest. The program provides teens with training, mentorship and professional experience in environmental conservation and park stewardship. This year’s crew of 20 youth from 15 different local high schools have spent their summer and fall delving into urban gardening and horticulture, including invasive species removal, planting, erosion control, trail work and more to help sustain our park while gaining valuable paid professional experience, networking skills, mentorship and more. 

“I’ve seen this group grow in countless ways throughout the seasons,” shares Alliance Woodlands Youth Crew Program Manager Kendra Srebro. “One of my favorite things to do is to encourage the youth to teach each other. I teach one youth crew member a skill, and then supervise them teaching one of their fellow peers. When they are empowered to teach a skill they not only learn it more thoroughly but also gain confidence. This team has impressed me so much with the attention to detail and the care they’ve put into their work; from caring for our tools to communicating with one another, learning a new restoration technique, and taking on new challenges.”

The team also embarked on field trips, applying their knowledge and skills to a range of real world settings and in a variety of natural landscapes, including the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. “A skill I’ve learned on the Youth Crew is how to remove mugwort and many other invasive plants. It is very rewarding since we can clearly see the difference before and after,” shares Woodlands Youth Crew Member Tian Han. “I learned to identify both invasive and native species, learned to use different types of tools and also teamwork.”

At Lefferts Historic House, a team of three Park Youth Representatives (PYRs) welcomed and guided visitors through the museum, assisted with daily programs, and ensured the smooth day-to-day operation of the site. Beyond their work at the museum, the PYRs were instrumental in helping us deliver community partner programming, including this year’s Pinkster celebration and our recent Pow Wow. 

“Watching the PYRs grow in confidence has been rewarding and inspiring,” shared Public Programs Manager, Riah Kinsey. “This year, our PYRs came from a variety of backgrounds within the African diaspora, with many being recent immigrants from West Africa and the Caribbean. Through our programming, they’ve not only had the opportunity to learn about other cultures within their community, but also about the ways in which their own cultures have contributed to the history of Flatbush and New York at large. It’s great to see the progress they’ve made in speaking confidently about those topics and to observe the thoughtful conversations they have with each other.”

At the Prospect Park Audubon Center, a team of 16 PYRs made a meaningful impact through encouraging visitors to “Be a Park Champion,” guiding parkgoers on how to care for their park with citizen science activities, nature observation, hands-on crafts and stewardship projects. PYRs engaged the community in important environmental topics, including pollinator diversity, pond water health, wildlife adaptation and woodland protection, while fostering a deeper connection to the park’s natural habitats. 

“It has been inspiring to watch the PYRs grow—becoming more confident in asking questions and resourceful in finding answers,” shared Alliance Public Programs Manager Camilla Wilson. “As they discovered this confidence, they became more open and welcoming to visitors. We are proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the energy, curiosity and dedication they bring.”

In August, the WYC and PYRs came together for a career scavenger hunt to explore the breadth and diversity of careers in green spaces. Youth embarked on a search to find and meet with Alliance team members across departments to discuss careers. 

“The Park Youth Representatives and Woodlands Youth Crew are growing into something much bigger than part-time employment,” says Alliance Vice President of Public Programs Maria Carrasco. “These young leaders are gaining skills, confidence and mentorship that connect them to nature, to their community, and to future opportunities in school and careers.”

As part of the Alliance’s Youth Development Initiative, the programs are expanding to offer deeper training, year-round support, and clear pathways into higher education, green careers and civic leadership. The future of PYR and WYC is centered on growth, equity and impact, transforming work opportunities into long-term experiences that prepare Brooklyn teens to thrive as stewards of the park and as leaders. 

Learn more about Youth Employment Programs in Prospect Park.

Youth Employment Programs receive generous support from the Carol and Edmund Blake Foundation, the Gray Foundation, Macy’s and New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.