Author: Laura Robinson

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.”

Learn more about the full season, and RSVP for our opening events: prospectpark.org/lefferts.

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.

DJ on the Porch: Lefferts Libations, Homage of Music and History 
Saturday, June 29, 2–7 pm
Lefferts Historic House, Free: prospectpark.org/lefferts 
Join Prospect Park Alliance and Juwandi House Riddems for a family-friendly afternoon of house rhythms in the yard of Lefferts Historic House.

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.

ReImagine Lefferts is funded through a Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Mellon Foundation Logo

Movie Nights in Prospect Park Return for 2024

May 14, 2024

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

This event series is free and open to the public, and RSVPs are not required for entry.

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!

Saturday, June 8, Family Day: The Halluci Nation | Xiuhtezcatl | Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble

Saturday, June 15, Benefit Concert: Michael Brun Presents BAYO

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Juneteenth UNITYFEST

Friday, June 21, Ana Tijoux | Ambar Lucid

Saturday, June 22, NPR Tiny Desk Contest On The Road – Thee Sacred Souls | Adi Oasis

Saturday, June 29, Fishbone | Son Rompe Pera

Saturday, July 6, Film Night: Do the Right Thing 

Friday, July 12, Travels Over Feeling: Celebrating Arthur Russell

Saturday, July 13, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 | Lollise | Rich Medina | IAM LOVE

Friday, July 19, Richie Ray | Meridian Brothers | Madame Vacile

Saturday, July 20, Habibi Festival

Friday, July 26, Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE

Saturday, July 27, Watchhouse | Black Belt Eagle Scout

Friday, August 2, Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin | Talibah Safiya

Friday, August 9, Jesse Royal | Anant Pradhan & Larry McDonald | Ayanna Heaven

Saturday, August 10, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul | Sinkane | Ushka

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

Celebrate Earth Week in Prospect Park

April 15, 2024

Earth Week is just around the corner! Prospect Park Alliance has several ways to get involved in caring for Brooklyn’s Backyard—home to Brooklyn’s last remaining forest, only lake and hundreds of species of plants and animals. Celebrate your planet this upcoming Earth Day.

Earth Day Celebration at the Boathouse
Sunday, April 28
RSVP Today
12 pm — 2 pm Nature Education Activities – Take part in family-friendly nature activities at the Boathouse on Sunday, April 28. Enjoy fun-filled seasonal discovery stations, create your own paper seed pot, and join a nature walk while tackling litter along the way to help your park shine and celebrate our earth.

2 – 3 pm The Arrival – Join Prospect Park Alliance for The Arrival, a dramatized mythical production about how water came to Earth by Something Positive, a New York City based performing arts and education organization dedicated to preserving the art and culture of the African Diaspora and its cross-cultural influences.

 

Volunteer in Prospect Park
Select Dates, Locations Vary
Join an upcoming volunteer opportunity to help care for your park while making the most of Brooklyn’s Backyard during the bustling and vibrant spring season.

 

Lend a Hand to Your Park

Be a Park Champion by staying on designated paths, disposing of litter properly, leashing dogs outside of designated hours and areas, and treating flowers, plants and trees with the love they deserve.

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

Alliance Launches Open Air Care Connections

March 26, 2024

Prospect Park Alliance and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have announced the launch of a pilot program, Open Air Care Connections, which seeks to remove the stigma around mental healthcare through community health outreach, events and educational programs. Through the pilot, community health workers provided by housing nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn (NHS Brooklyn), will be placed at key locations in the park and embedded into Alliance events and public programs to address mental health needs of our community.

Coming out of the COVID pandemic, mental healthcare is one of the primary needs of New York City residents, yet one that often goes untreated. According to an opinion poll by The Health Department, nearly 25% of all New Yorkers identified experiencing anxiety, and nearly 18% experiencing depression. Nearly 50% of those who expressed needing mental health support felt that they did not know did not know where to go to get services or how to access them. Time spent in nature is proven to reduce stress, relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost cognition, attention and sleep quality. Green spaces also give communities vital places to gather: strengthening social ties and lessening isolation.

Through this pilot program, which will run through June 30, 2024, The Health Department and the Alliance seek to address mental health and well-being through education and coping skill-building; and creating a pathway for quality care through assessment, intervention and direct referrals to mental and physical health services. Among the reasons that those who experience anxiety and depression do not seek treatment is the stigmatization of mental health concerns, as well as concerns about cost and access to care. The program focuses on addressing these barriers while leveraging the benefits of the natural environment. The program will engage park-goers to assess their social needs and provide direct referrals to find support for emotional health, substance use, physical health, housing, career, education and food-access concerns.

“When it comes to mental health resources, we must meet people where they are,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our parks and green spaces are a haven for millions of New Yorkers and by offering mental health support through this new pilot program, we’ll connect even more New Yorkers with the services and care they need.”

“Parks are a hub for activity whether you’re taking a stroll in the evening, spending an afternoon with your partner and children, and so many more ways New Yorkers utilize parks. This is especially true for Brooklynites and Prospect Park,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Ann Williams-Isom. “This partnership helps us meet people where they are to engage them in a way to support their and their families’ mental health needs. We know that mental health is a lifelong journey and this initiative adds to the avenues of support and options available to New Yorkers.”

“In recent years it has become more clear than ever before how essential Prospect Park is for the health and well-being of the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home,” said Prospect Park Alliance President and Park Administrator Morgan Monaco. “Prospect Park is a place of comfort and healing to so many, and the pandemic illustrated how important access to quality health care is and how far we have to go to ensure everyone has access. There is widespread evidence of the health benefits that come from being in nature, and being able to offer park-goers direct wellness support and resources here in Brooklyn’s Backyard is crucial to help our community go from surviving to thriving. We thank the New York City Health Department and Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn for their partnership to address barriers of entry and establish connections between our green space and access to much needed social, health and wellness services.”

“Crises like serious illness, job loss, or the death of a family member can so destabilize a family’s finances that they lose their home. Our mission at NHS Brooklyn is to stabilize our community by helping our neighbors keep their home. That’s why Open Air Care Connections is such an exciting initiative for us. By connecting residents to services and programs, we’ll help them to not only avoid personal, financial, and health disasters. We’ll help them thrive.” said Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn, Tonya Ores.

“Parks do so much for our mental health and wellbeing,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “This partnership will help us turn beloved parks into pathways for support. It will also start an important public conversation about mental health, which for too long has been stigmatized, shamed and marginalized. It is time to bring this work into the open.”

“Our public parks and greenspaces are vital for New Yorkers’ mental and physical wellbeing, offering spaces for relaxation, community, and connection with nature. Now, thanks to this initiative, visitors to Prospect Park will be able to directly access mental health resources, right in Brooklyn’s Backyard,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This new program is a great complement to our Let’s Green NYC initiative, which seeks to combat the nationwide epidemic of loneliness and foster connections between communities through volunteerism. I’m so grateful to our partners at the Prospect Park Alliance and the Health Department for this great collaboration.”

Community health workers will leverage the park and its natural setting to engage park patrons to discuss mental health and well-being, starting at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in March 1-2 days a week, with the aim of fostering compassionate and engaging interactions with patrons, and promptly linking those with concerns to the necessary support services and resources. In the Spring, the pilot will expand to existing Prospect Park Alliance public programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House, where NYC Health experts will help to center these programs in health and well-being. In addition, The Health Department will host special workshops and programs on topics such as the Impact of Racial Trauma on Health and Processing Grief through Gratitude. Lastly, through its partner, Neighborhood Housing Services, the Alliance will provide housing education and expert services at select programs and events.

Learn more about health and wellness in Prospect Park.

Shirley Chisholm c. Pictorial Parade : Getty Images

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Shirley Chisholm

March 1, 2024

March is Women’s History Month!  To celebrate the impact women have had in Prospect Park and in our Brooklyn community, we’re spotlighting the storied legacy of Brooklyn trailblazer Shirley Chisholm. A local hero, Shirley Chisholm is a beacon of perseverance and dedication in Brooklyn and far beyond. In the coming years, two tributes to Chisholm and her legacy are also coming to Brooklyn’s Backyard. The Shirley Chisholm monument, commissioned through the She Built NYC Initiative through funding from the NYC Mayor’s office, will pay homage to Chisholm and the Shirley Chisholm Welcome Center, made possible through funding from NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Brooklyn Delegation, led by Council Members Crystal Hudson, Rita Joseph, Shahana Hanif and former Council Majority Leader, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, will transform a former maintenance building into a space that honors Chisholm’s impact and complements the new monument.

Chisholm was born 1924 in Brooklyn to Barbadian parents. She spent her childhood in Barbados but returned to Brooklyn at age ten and lived much of her life in Crown Heights, to the northeast of Prospect Park and blocks away from historic Weeksville. Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn Girls’ High and from Brooklyn College. She initially worked as a nursery school teacher in Brooklyn and earned a master’s degree in early childhood education. By 1960, she was a consultant to the New York City Division of Daycare. Shirley fought for racial and gender equality even before her time in congress and joined local chapters of the League of Women Voters, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League, and the Democratic Party Club in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Chisholm was a leader and an advocate for residents of Brooklyn and the country at large.

In 1968, Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Her notable achievements in Congress included working to expand access to food stamps, extending minimum wage requirements to domestic workers, and helping to pass Title IX, the landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits any sex-based discrimination in any government-funded school or education program. Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation and championed racial and gender equality throughout her time in congress. She was one of the founding members of the Black Caucus in 1971 and that same year was one of the founding members of the National Women’s Political Caucus, and in 1977 became the first Black woman and second woman ever to serve on the powerful House Rules Committee. 

By 1972, Shirley Chisolm was one of the most visible and powerful members of Congress. That same year, Representative Chisholm became the first Black major-party candidate to run for President of the United States. True to her famous slogan, “unbought and unbossed,” Chisholm refused to abandon the interests of her constituents, no matter what establishment politicians did to intimidate her or mitigate her efforts. As Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.” 

During Chisholm’s quest for the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nomination, she was blocked from participating in televised primary debates, and after taking legal action, was permitted to make just one speech. Her resilience prevailed and Chislhom entered 12 primaries and garnered 152 of the delegates’ votes despite the extensive discrimination she faced, earning her nickname “Fighting Shirley”. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983. She taught at Mount Holyoke College and co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women. Chisholm’s legacy lives on in her hometown of Brooklyn and far beyond, as she remains a national symbol of triumph and a true catalyst for change.

Prospect Park Signage System Survey

February 8, 2024

Prospect Park Alliance wants to hear from you! The Alliance is working with noted signage designers Two Twelve to create a master plan for wayfinding, stewardship, information and education signage in Brooklyn’s Backyard to improve the visitor experience and better serve the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home.

Share your feedback and ideas to help inform the plan’s design:

Take the survey button

Morgan Monaco in the rain posing with a shovel among other people planting saplings.

Surprising Storms and Historic Events: President Morgan Monaco’s First Year

Morgan Monaco has wrapped up an eventful first year leading Prospect Park Alliance to advance and sustain the park, engage the community and care for Brooklyn nature. We chatted with Morgan about her presidency and vision for the park’s future, including what most surprised her about the role and memorable moments in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

What are some of your favorite parts of leading Prospect Park Alliance so far?

Getting to meet our diverse community of park users. The number one thing that unites them is how beloved this park is to them. I’ve heard so many stories from people who are nearly brought to tears when they talk about how the park really saved them during the pandemic. The park was a safe haven and a place of joy during a very dark time in the world. It’s inspiring to come to work everyday knowing that we are providing such an essential public service.

But this is more than just a park: it’s a canvas for the many cultures of Brooklyn. Just walk through the Long Meadow or Lincoln Road picnic area on any given Saturday, you can hear the music and smell the delicacies of Brooklyn. I’m honored that this is a place where people feel comfortable expressing themselves and their cultures—all facets of life are happening here.

What Prospect Park Alliance accomplishments from your first year are you most proud of?

Most people don’t know that there is so much happening in Prospect Park. The Alliance offers programming all year round. Last year, I was especially proud of our signature ReImagine Lefferts Initiative, including Pinkster Day and Juneteenth events, and the wildly successful immersive J’ouvert exhibit. We also provide a venue for countless events that add to the richness and the experience of the park, from music events like Celebrate Brooklyn, to athletic events, fundraising walks and so much more.

I’m also excited about the many robust capital projects we have in progress. We’ve completed the  design of  the Vale in the park’s northeast corner, and have begun the redesign of the Lincoln Road and Third Street playgrounds and the Shirley Chisholm Welcome Center. We’ve really honed our ability to incorporate community feedback into our design process and I’m looking forward to sharing our designs for these projects soon.

We conducted a series of listening tours in five neighborhoods surrounding the park to better understand the role it plays in each of those communities, which resulted in some very meaningful dialogue.

I’ve gotten to know some of our volunteers and see the work they do and the knowledge they’ve gained by giving back to the park. They are amazing extensions of our staff, and our Volunteer Services and Landscape Management teams really rely on them. It’s been incredible to witness not only the admiration that our community holds for the park, but also people rolling up their sleeves to help us care for the park.

Did anything about your role especially surprise you in your first year?

Tropical Storm Ophelia in September was a big surprise: both the impact that it had and our team’s incredible ability to respond to it. Our team jumped into action and was able to quickly assess the damage, and our supporters were equally at the ready to respond and contribute funds and volunteer hours. We were able to weather the storm because we have so many amazing supporters.

The celebrated opening of Fallkill Trail was another surprise! People across our community came together to experience a beautiful part of the park that had been previously closed off to the public. It was a testament to how much people crave access to nature and want to make the most of their time here in Prospect Park.

What are you most looking forward to in the year to come?

Now that I’ve had time to listen to our community, learn about how they use the park, and explore the role the park plays in their lives, I’m really excited to tackle some of the big strategic questions we’ve been exploring over the past year. What is our role in a post-pandemic world that is facing increasing threats from climate change and uncertainty around the city budget? We need to ensure that we are able to withstand those threats and remain resilient. We’re about 75% of the way through the developing the strategic plan, and I look forward to sharing a very clear set of priorities that answer the big questions of who we are and our focus in the park. .

How has the past year informed your vision for the future of the park?

I came in with a specific vision to explore the ways in which the park can be a venue for health and wellness services and public art. I am so grateful that that vision has been well received by members of the public, park users and by potential partners both in academia and clinical practice who see that there are some barriers to entry for people accessing health and wellness services.

The storm in September was an important learning experience for me to understand the investments that need to be made to prepare the park for climate change.

Are there any new park destinations you’ve visited or activities you’ve taken up in your first year at the Alliance?

I definitely feel like I know the park so much better than I ever have before. I’ve had the pleasure of exploring almost every acre and I think our woodlands are such a treasure. It’s been really rewarding for me to learn more about our trails and the dedicated work our Landscape Management team does day in and day out to sustain these beloved woodland areas.

Still from "Chisholm '72," courtesy of Realside Productions

Shape the Shirley Chisholm Welcome Center Design

Prospect Park Alliance wants to hear from you! Through funding from New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Brooklyn Delegation, led by Council Members Crystal Hudson, Rita Joseph, Shahana Hanif and former Council Majority Leader, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, the Alliance is transforming an existing building at the Parkside and Ocean entrance to Prospect Park into a space that complements the new Shirley Chisholm Monument planned for this entrance to the park. The Center will orient visitors to the life and legacy of the Brooklyn trailblazer, while providing visitor amenities.

View the Community Visioning Presentation to learn more about the project, then take our online survey to share what you’d like to see in the new Welcome Center.

Take the survey button

Want to share your feedback in person? Join an upcoming community engagement opportunity:

Shirley Chisholm Monument + Welcome Center Presentation: St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
Sunday, February 25, 12 – 1 pm, St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church (331 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225)

Flatbush Library Tabling Session
Thursday, February 22, 3 – 7 pm tabling session at the Brooklyn Public Library Flatbush Branch (22 Linden Blvd. at, Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226)

*7 7* Community Event: Bleu Nuk BK
Tuesday, February 27, 7 – 8 pm tabling session at Bleu Nuk BK (1150 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225)

Prospect Park Alliance Unveils Art Installation at Grand Army Plaza

Prospect Park Alliance and Art For Change, which connects socially conscious art collectors with in-demand contemporary artists and their work, have unveiled a large-scale public art exhibition in Grand Army Plaza: Park Of Dreams, on view through Spring 2024. The project is installed on the construction fencing of the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, which is currently being restored, along with the Plaza and Berms, by Prospect Park Alliance through $8.9M in Mayoral funding. 

Park Of Dreams was made possible in part through a $25,000 grant from Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, with additional funding from Council Member Crystal Hudson. The project was undertaken through the City Canvas initiative of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and in partnership with NYC Parks. 

“The beloved Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon and its plaza is an important space for community dialogue and gathering. Art and creative expression is part of what makes Prospect Park so special, and we are honored to partner with Art For Change to present a new generation of artists in Brooklyn’s premier civic space while restoration is underway,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President.

“Park Of Dreams is one of Art For Change’s most exciting projects to date and we are thrilled to be working with Marcus Brutus, Kelly Beeman, Amy Lincoln, Jules de Balincourt, and Danielle Orchard amongst others,” says Art For Change Founder, Jeanne Masel. “Parks are a crucial part of any community and Prospect Park in particular holds a special place in my heart as a Brooklynite. Parks not only connect city dwellers to nature and offer a respite from the hustle and bustle, they support an incredible ecosystem of flora and fauna. Environmental conservation is a central tenet of Art For Change’s mission. Curating and producing this project enables us to leverage our deep relationships with artists and, in turn, show our respect for a park that is both a vital aspect of the Brooklyn community and an important ecosystem in itself.”

Park Of Dreams is a curated presentation of contemporary artworks by Marcus Brutus, Kelly Beeman, Alyssa Klauer, Danielle Orchard, Cydne Coleby, Jules De Balincourt, Amy Lincoln, Bianca Nemelc, Maria Calandra, Jon Key, Kirsten Deirup, and Na’ye Perez, which celebrates and supports Brooklyn’s beloved Prospect Park. The installation is accompanied by limited edition prints of each image available for purchase on the Art For Change website, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Prospect Park Alliance.

“The restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza spotlights the majesty of Prospect Park, enabling all visitors to be in touch with nature and take in the art that permeates these vital public spaces. I am proud to allocate $25,000 to Prospect Park Alliance’s Park Of Dreams exhibit, which showcases Grand Army Plaza’s revival, highlighting some of New York’s most talented, local artists that inspire creativity among the thousands of visitors who pass by each week,” said Assembly member Brian Cunningham. 

“The social good that the arts and public parks bring to our communities is indisputable,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “The partnership between the Prospect Park Alliance and Art For Change is an ambitious project that will combine these civic goods and allow our neighbors to not only engage with their built environment in a special way but experience the work of renowned and burgeoning artists in an equally innovative way.”

Visit the Art for Change website for more information on this exciting project.