Fire Alert: Due to high winds and severe drought conditions, there is a fire alert in the park: grilling is currently banned, and smoking and open flames remain illegal. Any fires should be reported immediately to 911. Learn more about fire safety from FDNY.
Author: Laura Robinson
TLC For Trees in Brooklyn’s Backyard
October 8, 2024
Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest: more than 30,000 trees of more than 175 species that keep our air clean, provide shade and cooler temperatures on hot summer days and a haven for wildlife year-round. In the face of climate change and a number of insects, diseases and other stressors, caring for this Brooklyn treasure is a constant focus of the Alliance’s Landscape Management team, who make use of a number of innovative strategies to help the trees of Brooklyn’s Backyard continue to thrive for generations to come.
Prospect Park’s beloved grove of nine American Elms (Ulmus americana) near Dog Beach on the Long Meadow are getting some much needed tender love and care thanks to the Alliance’s Landscape Management Team. These trees, which are close to 100 years old, are a Brooklyn treasure. Recently, the team injected the trees in the grove with an immunity-booster, known as “inoculant“, to protect them against Dutch Elm Disease, a fungus that has devastated this species of trees across the country for over 50 years. “The inoculant makes its way all throughout the tree in only about a week,” shares Alliance Arborist Malcolm Gore. “Trees are always moving fluids throughout their systems internally, so the dose spreads like a slow and steady drip. Much like how we protect ourselves from disease, one dose is not sufficient for a lifetime, and just as we need booster shots regularly, so do these trees. Providing this boost gives our trees the best chance they have to continue thriving from the inside out,“ says Gore.
Elm grove vaccination in-progress in the roots of the nine American Elms in the grove this Spring.
The team was also strategic in timing this work. “We did this in the Spring because that’s when trees are moving energy up to their leaves, which makes it a great time of year to ensure the full tree is protected.“Disease spreads when the carrier feeds on an infected tree; for instance, a beetle will suck on the sap of a tree, and if that tree is infected, that beetle spreads the disease to the next tree, making it essential for the entirety of the tree to have this layer of protection.
In addition to proactively immunizing the tree against Dutch Elm Disease, the Alliance’s Landscape Management team is also giving the grove some much needed rest and relaxation, including temporarily fencing off the area in order to aerate the soil around their roots to address compaction from years of heavy use. “Giving these trees the break and the rest that they need is what allows the trees to be here for such a long time. With healthy soil quality, these trees can live for up to 200-300 years and will remain a vital part of our park and community for centuries to come,“ shares Gore.
The American Elm Grove in Prospect Park c. Martin Seck
Another tree under threat in the park are the Beech trees (Fagus grandifolia and Fagus sylvatica), due to a relatively new disease aptly called Beech Leaf Disease. Jumping into action at the first sign of this disease in the park, the team plans to use phosphite, which acts as a Vitamin C-like immune booster to strengthen the trees’ immune response. A practice long used in agricultural settings for orchards and for crops, the team will use a phosphite “basal bark drench,“ which involves spraying the bark at the base of the tree. Since Beech trees have a very thin bark, in a matter of only a week or two the “booster“ travels from the roots through the entire tree to protect it against disease.
While the team takes on these interventions, they pay close attention to the fact that disease alone is only one factor that contributes to a tree’s health. Soil compaction, drought and extreme temperature changes are also increased threats. In the face of new tree diseases and ever-changing and unpredictable environmental factors from climate change, it’s all the more important to be intentional about our planting for the future of the park.
The Alliance is in the midst of a large fall planting season with 9,000 trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. “We’re planting a diverse range of species, and ones that can withstand the changes in our environment,“ says Gore on the ways the team remains adaptive and forward-thinking. “Last September we saw six inches of rain in a day and this year we will be lucky to get an inch in the whole month. Planting with climate change in mind is not just about planting more warm-weather species, but also considering the extreme variabilities in weather we are getting year to year. We cannot rely on historical data as much any more for expected precipitation and temperature ranges. We’re focusing on planting the types of trees that can adapt and survive through the extremes.“
This work was made possible through generous funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Program and the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, which has enabled essential tree maintenance in Prospect Park.
Legacy in Landscapes: Christian Zimmerman
October 4, 2024
For nearly three and a half decades, Christian Zimmerman, Prospect Park Alliance’s Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architecture, has overseen the dramatic transformation of Prospect Park after decades of deterioration and decline, stewarding this world-class landmark and beloved community destination. Among many accolades for his work during his ongoing tenure, Christian Zimmerman has most recently been awarded The Olmsted Network’s 2024 Olmsted Stewardship Awardin celebration of his work to tirelessly restore Prospect Park’s landscapes, introducing the next generation of landscape architects to famed park designer Frederick Law Olmsted.
A walk through Brooklyn’s Backyard, complete with the sounds of soothing waterfalls, chirping birds and scenic vistas, is an experience beloved by millions of park visitors each year – in large part thanks to the Alliance’s Design and Construction and Landscape Management teams’ work to restore Prospect Park’s landscapes and historic structures. With an award-winning team of architects, landscape architects, horticulturalists, arborists, ecologists and other professionals, the Alliance is constantly working to make the park more vibrant, accessible and resilient to climate change.
Over his nearly 35 years at the Alliance, Zimmerman has completed countless impactful projects to make the park the place that our community holds so dear, including significant capital projects including the restoration of the Ravine (Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest) and the 26 acres of Lakeside, including the LeFrak Center. One of his more cherished accomplishments was the mid-1990s restoration of the Ravine, including its network of waterfalls, ponds, streams and shoreline that brought the park’s watercourse back to life.
Christian Zimmerman holds up a historic view of Ambergill Falls, used to recreate this section of the watercourse. The restored falls are behind him. c. Prospect Park Archives, 1997 (left). Restored Ambergill Falls c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley (right).
“Prior to this reconstruction, the watercourse didn’t function properly, and people were somewhat afraid to go through the Ravine,” Zimmerman explained. “Restoring the woodlands while simultaneously reconstructing the watercourse really changed how people engaged with the park. When we re-opened it up to the public, the transformation was stunning. We even brought back a waterfall that hadn’t existed for decades, shares Zimmermman of the Ambergill cascade, once seemingly only a stream after falling into disrepair, and now a visible waterfall of about 10 feet. The team reshaped the Lullwater, brought back the Binnen Pool, which had also not existed for decades, as well as a number of rustic bridges, making Prospect Park’s woodlands and watercourse the peaceful and inviting respite it is today for our community of people, plants and wildlife.
On his role leading the Alliance’s capital and landscape management work, Zimmerman reflects “It’s all really humbling. To have the opportunity to work on this vast network of projects here in this one space. You don’t get that opportunity often as a landscape architect, and I feel that my role is very unique. Working for a park in this capacity is special, and being able to steward and take care of one place, as opposed to many firms where projects are very spread out, is unique. I’ve gotten to spend my entire career bringing one beloved place back to life – which I don’t take lightly.”
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which opened to the public in 2013 c. Michael Moran
Zimmerman has seen how vital our park is as the backdrop to life’s moments, both celebratory and sorrowful. “We often talk about the pandemic in recent history, and how important Prospect Park was to our community during this time, but we’ve also seen for generations how the park is essential in getting our community through difficult times. It was heart wrenching and moving to be here during September 11. So many in our community wanted to be among people in their city, but quietly. The park’s landscapes gave people that place to find comfort near one another but not with each other. We saw then, and we continue to see now, each day, just how important this space is to people. Prospect Park gives people solace. It reminds me of how important it is to be taking care of this space, and I feel lucky to be able to do this. I don’t take it for granted.”
Along with leading the team in the restoration of park landscapes, Zimmerman instills a sense of mentorship in his work each day, teaching the next generation of architects and landscape architects to help continue the Alliance’s legacy. “There are cycles of history, and there are times within this park’s history that there were periods of neglect, and then an era of renewal and recovery. I was fortunate enough to come at a time when there was a renaissance with the founding of the Alliance. Since then, we’ve had this period of stability and renewal and we need to keep that going. I see one of my responsibilities as making sure the legacy of the Alliance remains moving forward, ensuring the Alliance will continue the great work we’ve accomplished.”
As he looks toward the future of Prospect Park, Zimmerman is excited for the upcoming restoration of the Vale in the park’s northeast corner and the restoration of the Lakeshore of Brooklyn’s only Lake. “I’m most excited by the fact that this long-term project will benefit so many people and neighborhoods and truly set up for the future of the park.” The multi-phase project, which is in the design phase of Phase 1, will make this 60-acre lake more resilient to severe storms and flooding, reduce the use of city water in our watercourse, improve the park’s ecology and the visitor experience. “This project collectively represents all that we do: historic restoration, environmental resilience, and so much more. We are addressing climate change, increasing wildlife habitat, and providing essential accessibility improvements—it touches everything.”
On the future of the park, Zimmerman shares that at the culmination of large restoration projects or the establishment of new landscapes, he’s often asked about what could be next now that the work is “done.” “The park is never finished,” he reflects. “I have countless projects left in mind to do, and to re-do, as the park continues to change. There is no ‘it’s done’ moment as the stewards of the park–—there are endless opportunities.”
City Releases New Budget with Funding for Prospect Park
August 12, 2024
On July 1, the City began a new budget year. Thanks to the dedicated advocacy of community members and our elected officials Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s flagship park, received both capital and expense allocations to keep the park green and thriving.
Funding for capital improvements in Prospect Park included $5 million from Mayor Adams for Phase II of our Lakeshore restoration; $765,000 from Council Members Rita Joseph and Crystal Hudson for the restoration of the Willink Restroom in the Children’s Corner; $750,000 from Council Member Shahana Hanif through Participatory Budgeting to add a handrail and lighting to a steep woodland path connecting the Nethermead and Long Meadow via Fallkill Falls; $500,000 from Council Member Joseph for improvements to the Parkside Avenue Perimeter; and another $500,000 from Council Member Rita Joseph through Participatory Budgeting to improve the pathways at Lincoln Road Playground.
In addition, the Alliance received important funding for its operations in the park, including $50,000 from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams toward our ReImagine Lefferts initiative, which is reinterpreting the park’s historic house museum to focus on on exploring the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. The Alliance also received $39,000 in funding from Council Member Shahana Hanif through the Council’s Greener NYC Initiative and her member discretionary funds, as well as $10,000 from Council Member Crystal Hudson through the Council’s Parks Equity Initiative, for our work to sustain the park’s natural areas.
“We are grateful to the Mayor, the Council Speaker, our local Council Members and our community for their support of Prospect Park,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco. “Welcoming millions of community members each year, Prospect Park is truly Brooklyn’s Backyard and depends upon — and along with our thriving network of green spaces across New York City, our park needs the City to remain the vital community space that we know and love. We urge our community to continue advocating for our Brooklyn gem and for parks across our city.”
In Prospect Park, the City and Prospect Park Alliance work hand in hand to care for Brooklyn’s Backyard, with the Alliance taking care of the “green and blue” landscapes (woodlands and waterways), and the City taking the lead in basic maintenance and trash management. With respect to the larger Play Fair campaign, which lobbied for the full restoration of a 5% budget cut on the City parks operating budget, the City restored some cuts for essential park operations including the Second Shift program, which provides evening cleaning staff at 100 city hotspots, including Brooklyn’s Backyard. A hiring freeze was also lifted for some field positions. In addition, the Council renewed one-time funding for several essential programs including $4.1 million for Urban Park Rangers, $2.6 million for the City’s Green Thumb Program, and $2 million for tree stump removal.
In Prospect Park, to supplement the City’s role in park maintenance, the Alliance funds a partnership with the non-profit ACE New York, which provides supplementary cleanup crews on peak weekdays and weekends. This year, in response to city budget cuts, the Alliance has expanded this program. The Alliance also continues to work with the Play Fair Coalition to advocate for increased funding for NYC Parks citywide, with the goal of having 1% of the city budget dedicated to the care of city parks.
Fuel Up! Free Lunch + Food Benefits in Prospect Park
July 17, 2024
Fuel up this summer in Prospect Park! Did you know that eating healthy foods can increase your lifespan, reduce risks of chronic disease and even boost your mood and support mental health? Brooklyn’s Backyard is a haven for health and wellness all year long, and this summer, Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Department of Education and GrowNYC are sharing even more ways to fuel up and stay healthy, from a free lunch truck for youth to our greenmarkets offering food benefits for fresh locally grown produce, globally-inspired ingredients and much more.
Learn more about free and low-cost healthy food resources in Prospect Park.
Free Summer Meals Truck Parkside and Ocean Avenue Entrance Daily through August 30: 10 am–4 pm on weekdays and 11 am–3 pm on weekends Calling all youth! Youth ages 18 and under can stop by the Free Meals Truck at the Parkside and Ocean Avenue Entrance to Prospect Park for free healthy and delicious food options daily through August 30. Distributed by the NYC Department of Education in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, the truck offers a menu of healthy options all summer long including sandwiches, salads, wraps, hummus, snacks and more. Learn more and view the daily menu.
GrowNYC Greenmarket Food Access Initiatives Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, Saturdays, Year Round, 8 am–4 pm Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket, Wednesdays, Year Round, 8 am–2 pm and Sundays, May 12–December 22, 9 am–2 pm
As part of GrowNYC’s mission to provide equitable access to fresh food, all GrowNYC Greenmarkets, including Brooklyn’s flagship Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza and the Greenmarket at Bartel-Pritchard Square, offer a range of ways to purchase healthy, nutritious locally grown food. From Pipicha and Papalo to Green and Red Shiso to Copalchi and Callaloo, so many fresh ingredients can be found at Greenmarkets in Prospect Park. Whether you’re searching for flavors of home or trying out a new recipe, GrowNYC Greenmarkets in Prospect Park offer fresh ingredients to help you create dishes from cultures across the globe.
Plus, the markets accept a range of nutrition benefit programs:
Summer EBT: Beginning in July 2024, New York State will launch Summer EBT (Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer), a new program that provides families with food benefits to help buy groceries during the summer when school children might not have access to school meals. Most eligible children will receive Summer EBT food benefits automatically; however, some families may need to apply. Learn more about eligibility and what Summer EBT means for your family.
SNAP/EBT Benefits: All year long, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), including Summer EBT, can be used to purchase any edible item at the market including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, honey, jam, dairy, breads and baked goods. Visit the market information tent to swipe your EBT-SNAP card in exchange for wooden tokens that can be spent at the market.
Health Bucks: Health Bucks are $2 coupons sponsored by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all farmers markets throughout New York City. To help stretch SNAP benefits and encourage the purchase of healthy local food, anyone who spends $2 in SNAP benefits at the Greenmarket will receive a bonus $2 Health Buck, for up to $10 per day.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP): The New York State Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) helps provide fresh fruits and vegetables to women, infants, children and low-income older adults. FMNP distributes five $5 checks to eligible participants for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets from June through November.
FreshConnect Coupons: FreshConnect Coupons are $2 coupons distributed at Division of Veterans’ Affairs offices to military veterans, and service members and their families. These coupons can be used at Greenmarkets to purchase any SNAP-eligible item.
Wonder how you can make the most of your benefits at Greenmarkets in Prospect Park? Speak with representatives on site at the GrowNYC information tent to help you find out the best option for you. Plus, stop by the GrowNYC information tent to pick up free recipes, view cooking demonstrations from guest chefs from local restaurants and speak with local community groups.
Prospect Park Alliance Brings Purslane Cafe to the Boathouse
June 27, 2024
Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Brooklyn’s Backyard in partnership with the City, has announced the opening of Purslane Cafe, which will provide healthy, sustainably sourced food and coffee daily and summer cocktails, wine and beer on select evenings at the iconic Prospect Park Boathouse Terrace starting July 4.
Run by New York-based sustainable hospitality group The Oberon Group(Rucola, June, Rhodora, Clara, and Anaïs), Purslane Cafe is a physical extension of Purslane, Oberon’s catering arm and New York’s first zero-waste, carbon-neutral catering company,which produces events at the Boathouse and Prospect Park Picnic House.Purslane Cafe will carry only sustainable, recyclable and compostable products.
“The Prospect Park Boathouse is one of the park’s most beloved and scenic destinations, and a historic landmark. The Alliance is dedicated to providing more food options in the park for the community, and Purslane Cafe will offer delicious, consciously sourced food and drinks for all to enjoy,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President.
“Brooklyn is The Oberon Group’s backyard and home to the majority of our restaurants, so we’re excited to be able to partner with Prospect Park Alliance and bring this new offering to such a historic part of the park,” said Henry Moynahan Rich, Managing Partner of The Oberon Group. “We’re thrilled to have this personal touch point between park visitors and Purslane, allowing people to interact with and learn about our mission to create a more sustainable food system.”
Featuring a menu of coffee drinks and healthy food options like sandwiches and pastries daily, Purslane Cafe will be open daily from 8 am-3 pm with outdoor seating, and will offer a variety of summer cocktails, wine and beer on select evenings. Visit @purslaneatheboathouse on Instagram for select evening hours. The cafe will also host live music and small pop-up events to bring further energy and excitement to the Boathouse terrace.
Purslane Cafe joins other food amenities that the Alliance has brought to the park in recent years, including Winner in the Park, King David Tacos, Lark by the Park, Smorgasburg and more.
Prospect Park Alliance Unveils ReImagine Lefferts Interpretive Plan
June 11, 2024
Prospect Park Alliance has partnered with Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture amongst many others globally, to create a new interpretive plan for the Lefferts Historic House museum that shifts the museum’s focus to explore the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.
“As the Alliance’s first Black leader, I am honored to be ushering in this new interpretive plan and a new era of recognition and celebration of the stories and histories that have been ignored for centuries. Through this plan we seek to make the museum a place for healing and a forum for thoughtful dialogue and learning for our community,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President.
“All of us at RAA are committed to creating public spaces that foster understanding and empathy. The Reimagine Lefferts initiative offers a unique chance to prioritize meaningful dialogue and reflection on essential but also evolving histories, in a set of special spaces designed to bring the city together in recognition of their significance,” said Nick Appelbaum, Ralph Appelbaum Associates President.
In 2021, the Alliance launched the ReImagine Lefferts Initiative through a Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation. Through this initiative, the Alliance and RAA have developed an interpretive plan that will guide the Alliance in creating future exhibits and programming. The goal is to foster a safe and accessible space for engaging audiences with our collective past, as well as contemporary issues affecting descendant communities today. The plan is an ongoing and evolving roadmap for the museum, and was crafted from an intensive, year-long community engagement process that encompassed thousands of hours of conversation, insight, feedback and guidance from descendant communities, culture bearers, scholars, artists, civic leaders and museum professionals.
“The descendant guidance we’ve received is essential,” said Dylan Yeats, Prospect Park Alliance ReImagine Lefferts Project Manager. “One of the most important things we learned throughout the process is the importance 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.”
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 public art, healing gardens, 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 has launched its first artist-in-residence, Adama Delphine Fawundu’s Ancestral Whispers.
Elements of the interpretive plan will be developed over the next year, and the Alliance’s work to solicit guidance from descendant communities to inform the future of the Lefferts Historic House will continue through events and other engagements.
Prospect Park’s 585 acres are home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest and only Lake. Prospect Park Alliance sustains these scenic spaces for the benefit of our community and the flora and fauna that call it home. As we kick off the summer season, help support your park with every visit to Brooklyn’s Backyard.
Enjoy our free Nature Programs:visit the Prospect Park Audubon Center to learn about park wildlife, from buzzing pollinators to our birds, turtles and so much more.
Lefferts Kicks Off 2024 Season
May 15, 2024
Starting June 1, Prospect Park Alliance kicks off a full season of family-friendly programming at Lefferts Historic House museum, with the debut of its first Artist in Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu’s large-scale, site-specific installation, Ancestral Whispers, funded through a grant from the Mellon Foundation, and a Pinkster celebration with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the Pinkster Players and more.
“Art can be such a powerful tool for social justice, and for a dialogue about legacy, agency and creativity. When we have art in public spaces, we create meaningful opportunities for people to reflect on the beauty of the artwork in fellowship with other park users and with nature,” says Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “Prospect Park Alliance welcomes the entire community to join us for the debut of our first Artist in Residence and the second season of our ReImagine Lefferts initiative, which has shifted our interpretation to tell these stories of resistance and resilience. It is my hope that visitors will see a version of themselves represented in this museum and feel seen, honored and welcome. The season is an especially significant one as we share Ancestral Whispers with our community, which celebrates the heroism of Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family, and leverages the power of art to heal deep-seated wounds from our nation’s past.”
Operated by the Alliance in partnership with the Historic House Trust, the museum is open from June 1 through December 1, 2024, and provides free, family-friendly cultural programming for Brooklynites of all ages with hands-on experiences, live performances and other engaging activities that explore the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.
Adama Delphine Fawundu Ancestral Whispers The Alliance’s first ever Artist in Residence is lifelong Brooklynite Adama Delphine Fawundu. Fawundu is a photographer and visual artist whose work centers around themes of indigenization and ancestral memory, which has earned her a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship. “When the Alliance reached out it was so special because we were both on a specific trajectory. My whole existence is based in this neighborhood. The smell of the grass when it rains in the park means so much to me…I have such a history here. It felt very much like a 360 degree event to connect with the ReImagine team here in Prospect Park,” reflects Artist in Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu on initial conversations with the Alliance.
For her commission, Fawundu has created a large-scale, site-specific installation inspired by the research the Alliance has conducted into the lives of Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. To date, the Alliance has identified 25 people enslaved at the house between its 1783 construction and the 1827 abolition of slavery in New York. Fawundu has created 25 fabric banners that transform the house’s Flatbush Avenue facade, honoring the heroism of these Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. In addition, Fawundu’s 2020 video performance piece, In the Face of History Freedom Cape, which was filmed in part in Prospect Park and Lefferts Historic House, will be on view.
The Alliance will present a special opening event with Fawundu on Sunday, June 9, and a conversation with Fawundu and artist Nona Faustine on Sunday, June 30. Learn more and RSVP: prospectpark.org/ancestral-whispers.
Pinkster Celebration + Season Opening
The Alliance will celebrate the start of the Lefferts season with a special Pinkster celebration on Saturday, June 1, with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the Pinkster Players and friends, including long-time Lefferts storyteller Tammy Hall. Pinkster was the one holiday a year in the colonial period when Africans enslaved in New York were allowed to gather. Africans took that opportunity to celebrate and transmit their cultures, making Pinkster the oldest African festival in North America. This family-friendly event features music, history, performances, storytelling, demonstrations, games and food related to this historic celebration of Africans in New York. Learn more about Pinkster and RSVP: prospectpark.org/pinkster.
Enjoy the following special programs this June:
Lefferts Opening Event: Pinkster Celebration Saturday, June 1, 1–5 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/pinkster Prospect Park Alliance celebrates the 2024 season opening of our historic house museum with a celebration of Pinkster, a historic festival of African culture in New York, with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the Pinkster Players and friends, including long-time Lefferts storyteller Tammy Hall. This family-friendly event features music, history, performances, storytelling, demonstrations, games and food. Plus, the celebration continues with a Pinkster Celebration from 12-5 pm on Sunday June 2 at Weeksville Heritage Center! Free shuttle buses between the two museums from 12:30-5:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Exhibit Opening: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Ancestral Whispers Sunday, June 9, 2–5 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/ancestral-whispers Welcome Prospect Park Alliance’s first ever ReImagine Lefferts Artist in Residence, Adama Delphine Fawundu, at the official launch of her installation Ancestral Whispers. Enjoy a spiritually rich sonic offering, featuring Fawundu accompanied by her son and musician Che Buford, whose work explores the creation of new narratives while engaging with memory and place. Fawundu will conduct gallery talks of her works on display, explain her creative process and share details about some of the concepts and imagery in her art. Plus, DJ Spinna will also be performing as part of this opening celebration.
Elevating Black Queer Ancestors Thursday, June 13, 6:30–7:30 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts
Join Prospect Park Alliance Public Programs Manager Riah Kinsey on the porch of Lefferts Historic House for an evening tribute elevating Black Queer Ancestors. Bring a picnic and listen to excerpts of historic records documenting 300 years of Black Queer life in New York and beyond.
Father’s Day Celebration and Discussion Saturday, June 15, 12–3 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free, Registration Encouraged: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Assembly Member Brian Cunningham for a fun-filled Father’s Day celebration and BBQ at Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park!
*77* District 40 at Lefferts Historic House Monday, June 17, 7–8 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance and *77* District 40 for an evening of community and culture building. The event will feature seven seven-minute presentations and/or performances celebrating diverse cultures.
Uhuru Season: 17 Days of Freedom Daily, Wednesday, June 19–Friday, July 5 Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Visit the toll booth outside Lefferts Historic House to view a series of posters created by local artist Grey Jones. This site-specific exhibition commemorates the historical tradition of celebrating Juneteenth, the last day that Americans were freed from enslavement, and July 5, the day that many Black Americans historically celebrated American Independence as a sociopolitical protest to the continued enslavement of people prior to emancipation.
The Legacy of the Chicaba a.k.a. Moko Jumbie! Sunday, June 23, 2–5 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/caribbean Join Prospect Park Alliance, JouvayFest Collective, BUSH WO/MAN Conversations Project and 2J & Friends for The Legacy of the Chicaba a.k.a. Moko Jumbie! Traditional Character’s workshop at Lefferts Historic House. Learn the significance of these legendary African masquerade characters and how they have circulated through the diaspora across the Caribbean and other Carnival cultures around the world.
Conversations on the Porch: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Nona Faustine + Niama Safia Sandy Sunday, June 30, 2–3:30 Lefferts Historic House, Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance for a conversation between Lefferts Artist in Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu and artist Nona Faustine, whose work is currently on view at the Brooklyn Museum, moderated by cultural anthropologist, curator, producer and organizer, Niama Safia Sandy. Both Fawundu and Faustine use photography to engage with the legacies of enslavement and resilience in Brooklyn, and have produced work featuring Lefferts Historic House.
DJ on the Porch: Beats, Rhythm & Lyrics Sunday, July 14, 2–9 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance, DJ Vic Black of the Gangstarr Foundation and founder of Beats Rhythm & Lyrics for a day of great music and community in the yard of Lefferts Historic House.
*77* at Lefferts Historic House Wednesday, July 17, 7–8 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance and *77* District 40 for an evening of community and culture. The event will feature seven seven-minute presentations and/or performances beginning at 7 pm in the yard at Lefferts Historic House.
NYC Poetry Family Reunion Saturday, July 20, 3–9 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance, Empress Poetry & Essence Lamonde for performances and an open mic at the Lefferts Historic House. This event will bring together griots, poets and wordsmiths from across the diaspora to honor important members of the poetry community in NYC. We will also honor fallen community members with a legendary tribute.
DJ on the Porch: Songs of Resistance and Joy! Sunday, July 28, 2–5 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shawne’ Lee for a musical tribute to the courage of her mother, Mama Joy Chatel, the activist and preservationist who saved 227 Abolitionist Place in downtown Brooklyn from destruction. Enjoy music on the Lefferts Historic House porch and hear Sister Shawne’ spin the songs that gave Chatel strength, happiness, peace of mind and soulful comfort.
Community Health Awareness and Family Reunion Day of Fun August 18, 10:30 am–8 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance, James Frasier, DJ T-Groove, Mehala Isadora Miller Foundation, the Bonello Foundation and more for a Community Health Awareness event and Family Reunion Day of Fun at Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park. Enjoy free refreshments, activities, and school-supplies giveaways for children, fitness and nutrition workshops, and health screenings provided by One Brooklyn Health, Aetna, and more.
*77* at Lefferts Historic House Tuesday, August 27, 7–8pm Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts Join Prospect Park Alliance and *77* District 40 for an evening of community and culture building. The event will feature seven seven-minute presentations and/or performances beginning at 7 pm in the yard at Lefferts Historic House.
About Adama Delphine Fawundu
Adama Delphine Fawundu is a photographer and visual artist of Mende, Krim, Bamileke and Bubi descent. Her distinct visual language centered around themes of indigenization, and ancestral memory, enriches and expands the visual art canon. Fawundu co-published the critically acclaimed book MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora. She is an Assistant Professor of Visual Art at Columbia University. Learn more at delphinefawundu.com.
About ReImagine Lefferts
ReImagine Lefferts is Prospect Park Alliance’s initiative to re-envision the mission and programming of the Lefferts Historic House museum, an 18th-century Flatbush farmhouse and New York City landmark, to focus its interpretation and programming on exploring the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. The Alliance seeks to engage the public in thoughtful dialogue about the legacy of enslavement and the exploitation of marginalized communities in Brooklyn and beyond. Learn more at prospectpark.org/lefferts.
About Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. Learn more at prospectpark.org.
About the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org.
Spend your summer nights in Prospect Park with Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn, the free, outdoor movie series presented by Paramount+, Brooklyn Magazine, and BSE Global in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Prospect Park Alliance.
“It’s not summer in Brooklyn without movies in the park,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Outdoor movie nights in Brooklyn are a beloved tradition that only gets better each year. I’m especially thrilled that 2024 is bringing free movies all the way to Coney Island Beach. A major thank you to Brooklyn Magazine, Paramount+, and BSE Global, as well as Prospect Park Alliance, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, McCarren Park, and Alliance for Coney Island for ensuring this summer staple only gets sweeter with time.”Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn will kick off on June 7 in McCarren Park and continue with weekly free film screenings across the four locations throughout the summer.
“We are thankful to Borough President Reynoso for continuing this long-cherished tradition of bringing our community together for free movie nights under the stars in Brooklyn’s backyard, and to Paramount+ and Brooklyn Magazine for their support of this beloved series,” said Morgan Monaco, President of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park.
Prospect Park Movie Lineup:
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, July 31 due to weather Wednesday, June 26
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers. RSVP
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Wednesday, July 3
Video game adventurer Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts. RSVP
School of Rock Wednesday, July 10
After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band. RSVP
Clueless – RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, July 24 due to weather Wednesday, July 17
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school’s pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. RSVP
The films will begin shortly after sundown at the north end of the Prospect Park Long Meadow, located nearest to the Grand Army Plaza entrance and Third Street Entrance.
Please enter the park at the Third Street or Grand Army Plaza Entrance and note that a portion of the Garfield pathway and the Meadowport pathway between the Park Drive and Long Meadow are closed for path restoration. Please note that the movie may be cancelled in the case of inclement weather.
c. BRIC
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Announces 2024 Lineup
May 8, 2024
Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get ready for a season of music, dance and more at the Lena Horne Bandshell! The 2024 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, kicks off on Saturday, June 8 for a season of free shows, benefit concerts, dance performances, film screenings, and more. The festival, presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, is back for its 46th annual season of bringing communities together for summer fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is known for its distinct curatorial mix that elevates emerging artists, popular indie talent and showcases legacy artists from all genres and subgenres. This season, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is paying homage to the borough’s rich cultural tapestry with the theme “Raised by Brooklyn.” The theme is a tribute to the role Brooklyn has played in shaping the lives and trajectories of global cultural icons, public servants, artists, community activists, and business leaders born – and the role of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in shaping the Brooklyn cultural landscape. By centering “Raised by Brooklyn,” the festival celebrates the contributions of Brooklynites while providing a platform to inspire the next generation of changemakers and creatives, affirming its commitment to uplifting the diverse voices and experiences that make this community so vibrant.
Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President and Park Administrator, said, “BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park is a beloved flagship event, and a clear sign of summer for our community. Music and performing arts help keep us thriving in good times and in bad, and I’m grateful that the park is a place of inspiration for artists of all kinds. The festival has brought a wide range of free music, performances and family programming to Brooklyn’s Backyard and we look forward to coming together for an exciting season ahead with the many diverse communities of Brooklyn.”
Executive Director of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, Saidah Blount, stated, “ I am absolutely thrilled to share this vibrant and diverse festival lineup that embraces our ‘Raised By Brooklyn’ theme. This season’s array of musical genres and cultural moments represents the best of this vibrant borough! Across 10 weeks, you’ll hear music from the Caribbean diaspora, global rock and dance beats, as well as hometown heroes presenting orchestral works, powerful dance performances, and one of the most acclaimed films ever from a Brooklyn-born director. I’m hoping that everyone who comes out to the Lena Horne Bandshell this summer has the opportunity to see a bit of “their Brooklyn” in this dynamic lineup.”
Wes Jackson, President of BRIC Arts & Media, said, “We are so proud to be back at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park for our 46th season. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of the many things that have made Brooklyn one of the cultural capitals of the world. Together with the Prospect Park Alliance and the Parks Department, we have given a stage to the world’s best and brightest for more than a generation. With this year’s theme of ‘Raised By Brooklyn’ we pay homage to artists and our community who not only have Brooklyn as their home but as their muse. Whether you are from NYC or not, we are proud of a lineup that represents us all in all of our beauty.”
Tickets are available for many of this season’s benefit shows, and the majority of the festival’s performances are free to the public. For more information, check out our BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! page, and for the full line-up, scroll down!
