Prospect Park Alliance Brings Poetica Coffee to Prospect Park
January 15, 2025
Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Brooklyn’s Backyard, has announced that Poetica Coffee, a Brooklyn-based cafe, has launched a mobile food and coffee cart at the Willink Plaza Entrance of Prospect Park at Flatbush Avenue, near the Carousel, Zoo and Lefferts Historic House. Now open, Poetica Coffee offers a full menu of pastries, snacks and coffee drinks. The cart is in operation year-round from 8 am – 5 pm daily.
“Prospect Park Alliance is dedicated to providing an array of healthy and affordable food options in the park for our community, and Poetica Coffee, a local staple throughout Brooklyn, is an exciting addition to the food and drink offerings in our green oasis,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President.
“As a longtime resident of Windsor Terrace, Prospect Park has always held a special place in my heart. It’s where my family and I spend countless hours, enjoying the beauty and tranquility of nature,” says Poetica Coffee founder Parviz Mukhamadkulov. “Every day, my son Noor and I walk through the park, making memories in a space that feels like an extension of our home. Having the opportunity to serve Poetica Coffee here is truly a dream come true. Being a part of the park’s vibrant community is something I hold close to my heart, and I’m deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to this beloved green space.”
Poetica Coffee joins other food amenities that the Alliance has brought to the park in recent years, including Purslane Cafe, Winner in the Park, King David Tacos, Lark by the Park, Smorgasburg and more.
Ring in 2025 with live music a grand light display in Brooklyn’s Backyard! Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Prospect Park Alliance, in partnership with NYU Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Public Library, will present Brooklyn’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve Celebration at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. This free event will take place on Tuesday, December 31, from 10 pm until 12 am, with live music and a grand light display.
In light of the unprecedented drought conditions and recent fire, for the first time this year, this 44-year tradition will pivot from fireworks to a light show celebration in Brooklyn’s Backyard. The event will include live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10 pm. A festive light show display will begin at midnight in the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard, featuring beloved iconography including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Big Apple, the Statue of Liberty and more.
“Prospect Park is the best place to be on New Year’s Eve,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “It is a pleasure to team up with Prospect Park Alliance and NYU Brooklyn to ring in the new year with a time-honored Brooklyn tradition. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the colorful and exciting show that we have in store thanks to our partners’ hard work. As we welcome in 2025, I wish all Brooklynites health, happiness, and tons of fun!”
“Every year, Brooklynites look forward to ringing in the New Year with their neighbors in Prospect Park, and this year is no exception! We’re grateful to the Prospect Park Alliance for reimagining this tradition with a unique and inventive light show, and to Borough President Antonio Reynoso for his sponsorship and support,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Come on down and celebrate the beginning of 2025 with a tribute to Brooklyn’s vibrancy and creativity, right in Brooklyn’s backyard!”
“New Year’s Eve in Prospect Park is a beloved, decades-long tradition and celebration near to the hearts of so many Brooklynites,” said Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “We thank the Borough President, NYU Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Public Library for their generous support of this spectacular event. It is a special moment for our Brooklyn community to gather together in Brooklyn’s Backyard and ring in the new year with vibrant local entertainment and a gorgeous light display.”
“The Office of Community Engagement is proud to support the long-standing tradition of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Prospect Park,” said NYU Vice President of Government Relations and Community Engagement, Kyle Kimball. “We’re excited to join Borough President Reynoso and the Prospect Park Alliance in making this unforgettable event a reality for our community.”
“We can’t think of a better place to start the new year than with our next door neighbors in Prospect Park. We wish all Brooklynites a year filled with good health, good cheer and of course, good books,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.
*Please note the light show is pending FCC approvals and weather dependent. In the event of extreme weather, please check prosepctpark.org for updates.
Re:New Prospect Park’s Successful 2024
December 10, 2024
Have you spotted new improvements throughout Prospect Park this year? Prospect Park Alliance’s Re:New Prospect Park has been in full swing in 2024 throughout Brooklyn’s Backyard. Launched in 2021 to serve our Brooklyn community in light of reduced City resources and increased use of the park, the Alliance utilizes private funding to undertake important infrastructure work traditionally undertaken by the City. Through this initiative, the Alliance has completed a range of essential projects across the park over the past four years to improve the daily visitor experience in the park. The initiative also includes the Alliance’s partnership with ACE New York to provide additional cleaning crews in the park from spring through fall.
Check out the Alliance’s transformative 2024 projects, including drainage improvements, path restorations and more. The Alliance also thanks our community for your generous support to make these Re:New Prospect Park improvements possible.
In October, Prospect Park Alliance completed drainage repairs on the bridle path near Wellhouse Drive which included reconstructing two catch basins and installing new pipes to connect the path to the Lake to help stormwater runoff.
Drainage Improvements Near Eastwood Arch
Near Eastwood Arch, an area severely eroded by Storm Ophelia in September 2023, Prospect Park Alliance restored the catch basin along the Park Drive, built a new curb and repaved the surface. These improvements will help with drainage, protect the area from erosion and ensure that the landscape can be sustained in the face of severe storms.
Drainage Improvements Near Grand Army Plaza Entrance
The Alliance restored three catch basins on the west side of the Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park to help improve drainage at this heavily used destination.
10th Avenue Lawn Drainage Improvements
In Summer 2024, the Alliance completed drainage repairs at the 10th Avenue Lawn in Prospect Park. The improvements included draining water from the area, improving the drainage system by replacing catch basins and repairing the lawn.
Improvements Near the Carousel + Prospect Park Zoo
If you’ve taken the Carousel for a spin this season, you may have seen improvements to the paths alongside this beloved park destination. The Alliance reconstructed two catch basins and repaved these well-used pathways to improve access for our community. To guard against the severe impacts from flooding, the Alliance also focused efforts on clearing four catch basins near the back gate of the Prospect Park Zoo to improve drainage in the area.
Prospect Park Alliance focused efforts on the highly utilized path between the Music Pagoda and Binnen Bridge. To help keep the area clear of water and debris, the Alliance repaved the path and reset a catch basin to help capture stormwater.
Third Street Entrance + Long Meadow to Third Street
North of the Third Street Entrance to Prospect Park, the Alliance cleared catch basins as a first step of our ongoing work to help alleviate drainage issues and improve the visitor experience for our community. Plus, Prospect Park Alliance cleared drains inside the Third Street Playground and cleared sewer lines from the playground to the Long Meadow to improve drainage.
Lakeshore + White Levy Esplanade
The serene view along Brookly’s only Lake has gotten even more scenic, as the Alliance repointed brick and stone at the Leon Levy White Esplanade, regrouted stone along retaining walls and more to improve accessibility for our community to enjoy the landscape’s one-of-a-kind view of the Lake and its wildlife inhabitants, including varieties of turtles and ducks.
Concert Grove
Near the historic Prospect Park Concert Grove, the Alliance reconstructed the iron railing and reset stone pieces along the time-honored park destination, home to our recently restored Concert Grove Pavilion.
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.
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