Prospect Park Archives

City Funding For Prospect Park Improvements Announced

July 24, 2017

Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that cares for the Park in partnership with the City, has announced that the City’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget includes more than $7.6 million in capital funding for improvement projects in Prospect Park. 

“We thank Mayor Bill de Blasio, the City Council and Borough President Eric L Adams for allocating these funds so that the Alliance can continue its work restoring and advancing the Park,” said Sue Donoghue, Prospect Park Alliance President.  “We are so grateful for the support of our local elected officials so that we can improve the Park for the millions of community members who consider it Brooklyn’s Backyard.”

The following projects received capital funding:

Prospect Park Tennis House Restoration: Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council, led by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Brooklyn Delegation, have provided $5.1 million for Prospect Park Alliance to restore the historic Prospect Park Tennis House. Located along the Long Meadow near the Park’s 9th Street entrance, the Tennis House has been closed to the public for the last decade. This funding will allow the Alliance to restore this beautiful structure, which was designed by the same architect as the Prospect Park Boathouse, and originally served as a facility for lawn tennis players at the turn of the 19th century.

Parkside Avenue Perimeter Restoration: Borough President Eric L. Adams has provided $1 million in funding for the Alliance to restore the Parkside Avenue perimeter of the Park, including reconstructing the sidewalk, new lighting and street furniture, and planting new trees. This continues the Alliance’s work to restore the perimeter of the east side of the Park, including Flatbush and Ocean Avenue perimeters, which are also being funded by the Borough President, as well as Council Members Laurie Cumbo and Mathieu Eugene.

“The Parkside Avenue perimeter, as part of the greater eastern border of Prospect Park, is crucial to bringing greater equity to the open space experiences all Brooklynites seek,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “I am proud to support this restoration through my capital budget.”

Long Meadow Ball Fields 2 and 3 Restoration: Council Member Brad Lander contributed $750,000 to complete the Alliance’s ongoing restoration of the Long Meadow Ball Fields. Through the support of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, and the New York City Council Brooklyn Delegation, the Alliance has already restored Fields 1, 6 and 7, and Fields 4 and 5 are currently in the design phase. The project includes new drainage to better handle storm water runoff, restoring the playing fields, new pathways, lighting and benches, dedicated clay storage bins and shaded dugouts.

Parade Ground Restoration: Council Member Mathieu Eugene dedicated $734,000 for the Alliance to replace the turf on Field 9 at the Parade Ground, a beloved destination for sports in the Park. The fields at the Parade Ground see heavy use, and replacing the turf at Field 9 will make it safer and more enjoyable for all who use it.

To learn more about improvement projects in the Park, please visit the Prospect Park Alliance Capital Projects Tracker.