Tag: Community Engagement

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

Chisholm Monument Designs Unveiled

March 27, 2019

Make your voice heard!

View and comment on the five preliminary artist proposals for the new monument to Shirley Chisholm in Prospect Park, the first artwork to be commissioned as part of the She Built NYC initiative to bring more monuments honoring women to New York City’s public spaces.

This open call for feedback on the proposals by artists Firelei Báez, La Vaughn Belle, Tanda Francis, Mickalene Thomas and the team of Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous will continue through Sunday, March 31.

She Built NYC kicked off in June 2018 with an invitation for public nominations, and Shirley Chisholm was selected in November in recognition of her role as a political trailblazer who was both the first black Congresswoman and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. The monument is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020 and will be installed at the Parkside entrance to Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

This monument will be the centerpiece of Prospect Park Alliance’s restoration of the Parkside and Ocean Avenue perimeters and entrance to the park,made possible through funding by Mayor de Blasio, Borough President Eric L. Adams and Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene. The Alliance will improve the sidewalks and paving, add new historic lighting, street furniture, trees and plantings. There will also be a new protected bike lane. This project is expected to be completed by Fall 2021.

Learn more and view the designs at women.nyc.

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

A Monument to a Trailblazer Comes to Prospect Park

November 30, 2018

On U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm’s birthday and the 50th anniversary of her election to Congress, Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue joined First Lady Chirlane McCray and Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen in Prospect Park to make a momentous announcement.

The group held a press conference at the Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrance to the Park to announce that a monument to Representative Shirley Chisholm, the political trailblazer who was both the first black Congresswoman and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, will be erected at that location, where the Alliance is undertaking a significant restoration as part of our work improving the Park’s eastern perimeter.

“As Brooklyn’s Backyard, we are deeply honored to welcome this important monument to a true Brooklyn hero, Shirley Chisholm,” said Sue Donoghue, president of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Prospect Park in partnership with the city. “We thank the Mayor, First Lady Chirlane McCray and the Department of Cultural Affairs for selecting Prospect Park as the site for this commemoration, which will serve as a critical focal point of our restoration of the Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrance to Prospect Park.”

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A local hero, Chisholm was the first black Congresswoman in U.S. history, and both a leader and an advocate for residents of Brooklyn and the country at large. Her notable achievements in Congress included working to expand access to food stamps, helping to pass Title IX and extending minimum wage requirements to domestic workers. In 1972, Rep. Chisholm became the first black major-party candidate to run for President of the United States. This is the first monument commissioned as part of She Built NYC, an initiative that sought public nominations to honor the New York City women who have changed history.

“Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s legacy of leadership and activism has paved the way for thousands of women to seek public office,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “She is exactly the kind of New York woman whose contributions should be honored with representation in our public spaces, and that is now being realized with She Built NYC.”
 
“Shirley Chisholm was an American original—a fearless trailblazer who broke barriers and had an unrivaled commitment to justice,” said Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Economic Development. “From standing up to Congressional leadership to taking bold bipartisan action, Rep. Chisholm made sure everyone knew she was ‘unbought and unbossed.’ There is no one more deserving than Rep. Chisholm of a statue honoring her life and legacy; may New Yorkers of all backgrounds be inspired by her story.”

The site of this monument will serve as a critical focal point for the Alliance’s $9.5 million restoration of the Parkside and Ocean Avenue perimeters and entrance to Prospect Park, which includes $6.7 million in funding by Mayor de Blasio, $2 million in funding from Borough President Eric L. Adams, and $750,000 in funding from Council Member Mathieu Eugene. This large-scale restoration by the Alliance will include new sidewalks and paving, new historic lighting and street furniture, the planting of new trees and the addition of a protected bike lane. 

As the steward of Brooklyn’s Backyard, Prospect Park Alliance is deeply honored to welcome this important monument to a true Brooklyn icon. Read more about this announcement from the Mayor’s office.

Celebrate Brooklyn’s Diverse Cultures at the Brooklyn Roots Festival

July 13, 2018

Pictured above, Afro-Puerto Rican drum and dance ensemble Bomba Yo. C. Brooklyn Arts Council.

On July 29, the Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) and Prospect Park Alliance present the Brooklyn Roots Festival. This folk arts festival celebrates Brooklyn’s traditional artists and immigrant communities through performances, workshops, family activities and more.

This event is free, RSVP today to let us know you are coming!

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The festival is part of BAC’s summer-long Tradition as Resistance Festival. “Folk and traditional expressions are not relics,” said BAC Folk Arts Director Christopher Mulé. “These communities have much to teach us about moving forward in our current climate of social justice and protest. The Brooklyn Roots Festival provides a platform for multiple generations to celebrate traditions of resistance with pride.”

“Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s Backyard, and a haven for the diverse communities of this borough,” said Prospect Park Alliance Vice President of Programs Maria Carrasco. “The Alliance is dedicated to providing free public programs that celebrate the history and traditions of Brooklyn, and we are thrilled to partner on this first Brooklyn Roots Festival.”

The festival’s Main Stage will feature Palestinian dance ensemble Freedom Dabkah, Haitian drumming group Fanmi Asòtò, Afro-Puerto Rican drum and dance ensemble Bomba Yo, and other groups representing Yiddish, Serbian and African Diaspora cultures.

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Pictured, Haitian drumming group Fanmi Asòtò. C. Brooklyn Arts Council.

In addition to the performance Main Stage, a workshop station will engage audiences with activities led by groups including the Queer Kitchen Brigade, the food-agro project working in solidarity with Puerto Rico’s sustainable agroecology movement; Gran Bwa and the Congo Square Drummers, sharing their longtime tradition of sharing tradition and ritual in the Prospect Park Drummer’s Grove; and dance and music workshops.

A children’s section at the Lefferts Historic House presents acclaimed “King of the Dance Party” Father Goose Music with a journey through Caribbean and multicultural music, East Asian folk children’s group Rabbit Days and Dumplings featuring Elena Moon Park, and puppetry presentations by the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre. City Lore is also partnering with BAC to present the multimedia theater piece What We Bring: Stories of Migration.

This event is free, RSVP to let us know you are coming!

Pictured at top, Afro-Puerto Rican drum and dance ensemble Bomba Yo. In story, Haitian drumming group Fanmi Asòtò. C. Brooklyn Arts Council. 

c. Martin Seck

City Funds Park Improvements

July 2, 2018

News Body Text

New Vision for the Rose Garden

May 23, 2018

Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, has announced the results of a year-long effort to develop a community-driven vision for the park’s former Rose Garden.

This initiative is part of a larger effort by Prospect Park Alliance to restore the northeast section of the park, which also includes the restoration of the Flatbush Avenue park perimeter, a major restoration of the woodlands, as well as path and lighting improvements to make this area of the park more inviting and accessible to the public.

“Prospect Park is one of the increasingly rare, truly democratic spaces where a wide variety of people of different nationalities, cultures, ethnicities, races and socio-economic backgrounds intermingle,” said Sue Donoghue, Prospect Park Alliance President. “To make a more vibrant place for all of Brooklyn, we reached out to the many communities that use and border the park—particularly communities of color, young people, low-income families and new immigrants. Reaching out in multiple languages, in varied formats and at local venues ensured that people whose voices are often missing from local decision-making helped shape the future of this space.”

Prospect Park Alliance teamed up with Hester Street, a non-profit organization that works to ensure neighborhoods are shaped by the people who live in them, and Grain Collective, a landscape architecture and urban design practice, to engage local communities in the future vision of this little-known landscape. The Alliance engaged over 2,000 community members and local stakeholders over the course of this outreach effort, and gathered over 3,000 ideas. Ideas for the reimagined Rose Garden were gathered through a series of interviews, focus groups, “pop-up” events, in-person and online surveys, and workshops. This work was made possible through the support of the Altman Foundation.

The resulting, community-driven vision was informed by a set of guiding principles developed by community members and the Alliance to ensure any future improvements are in line with community priorities, as well as site and feasibility factors. Top priorities expressed were preserving the bucolic character of the space, and creating a welcoming environment to a broad array of communities.

“The many people we talked to were clear: the area must be open, accessible and inclusive of the diverse communities that border the Rose Garden and use the space,” reported Betsy MacLean, Executive Director of Hester Street, “and that community engagement and participation in the future design and programming of the park must be ongoing.”

View the findings of this year-long community engagement effort.

In the coming years, the Alliance will oversee related improvements to park’s northeast corner, including: the Flatbush Avenue perimeter restoration; path and lighting improvements; and the creation of two new entrances to the park. In the meantime, Prospect Park Alliance will further develop and refine design concepts for the former Rose Garden; determine the scope and budget for the project; and develop a broader fundraising campaign for the park to make this project a reality.

Learn more at prospectpark.org/reimagine.

Mayor Announces Car-Free Prospect Park

January 2, 2018

Today, Prospect Park’s entire loop drive—east and west—became permanently off limits to public vehicular traffic. The change follows the Park’s first car-free summer in 2017. The West Drive of the Park had been off limits to vehicular traffic since June 2015, while the East Drive was open to weekday morning rush traffic until the end of 2017.

“Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s backyard. I married Chirlane here. This is where my kids played little league. And I have always wanted it to be the safe, quiet refuge for Brooklyn’s families that it was intended to be.  Restoring Prospect Park as a car-free oasis will improve the lives of the millions who use this park today and of generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a recent statement.

During the car-free summer—from July 17 through  September 11, 2017—DOT estimated that recreational Park users outnumbered cars during morning rush by 1,000 users to 300 cars. After Labor Day Weekend, New York City received petitions with more than 1,100 signatures calling for the return of full-time, car-free hours for the entire Park. 

While the analysis of the car-free trial is still being finalized, its preliminary results clearly indicate no alternative driving route experienced more than a minimal delay, with most experiencing no change in travel times whatsoever. Based on that data, officials are now confident a fully car-free park can be implemented without adverse impact. These results are consistent with those seen after the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, when the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute, while other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve. After the January car-free hours take effect, DOT expects to closely monitor traffic around the park for changes in traffic patterns, and expects to adjust traffic-signal timing and make other changes as needed.

“Prospect Park Alliance applauds Mayor de Blasio, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver for working to ensure a car-free Prospect Park,” said Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “As Brooklyn’s Backyard, it is important to do all we can to ensure the Park is a safe and tranquil destination for the millions of visitors who depend upon it for recreation and relaxation.”

At a press conference announcing the news, Mayor de Blasio was introduced by Danayri Sanchez, a student at BASE High School on nearby Washington Avenue, who works with Prospect Park Alliance as a Park Youth Representative, leading tours and workshops, and guiding interpretive play at Lefferts Historic House: “Working at Lefferts Historic House with families from all over the city, I have learned just how important it is to the community to have a safe place to run, play or walk your dog, free from speeding cars, honking horns and nasty exhaust.”

Learn more about the Park Drive, and the rules of the road.

c. Brittany Buongiorno

Doctor’s Orders: A Walk in the Park

January 1, 2018

Should doctors be handing out prescriptions for a walk in the Park? Increasingly, studies suggest that a dose of nature does a body good. Bestselling author Florence Williams and New York Times health columnist Jane E. Brody report on the science behind what many of us know intuitively: that enjoying the outdoors makes us happier and healthier.

Luckily for those of us who live in Brooklyn, access to nature has been central to the development of our borough over a century. Chartered in 1834,  Brooklyn became the nation’s third largest city within thirty years. The resulting crowds and unsanitary conditions prompted the first American attempts at urban planning, with public green space seen as a health necessity more than an aesthetic one. James T. Stranahan, a business and civic leader, spearheaded the creation of Prospect Park as head of the Brooklyn Parks Commissioners, overseeing the Park’s creation from inception to completion with designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. In the early 1860s, Stranahan argued that a park in Brooklyn “would become a favorite resort for all classes of our community, enabling thousands to enjoy pure air, with healthful exercise, at all seasons of the year…”

Today, Prospect Park’s lush 585 acres include 250 acres of woodlands—Brooklyn’s last remaining forest—and also the borough’s only lake, which are sustained by Prospect Park Alliance’s dedicated crews of horticulturalists, arborists and forest ecologists. Anyone who has explored one of the Park’s nature trails, or enjoyed a stroll along the watercourse, can attest to its restorative powers, but what is the science behind this?

For her new book Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and more Creative, Florence Williams traveled across the globe to report on cutting-edge studies that provide concrete links between exposure to nature and health. In one study, an Essex-based environmental economist launched an app that mapped participants’ happiness against their location and found that we are “significantly and substantially happier outdoors…” Further east in Japan, a team of researchers gathering statistical evidence to back up the Biophilia theory, which states that humans experience lower stress levels in nature because we evolved in the natural world. And in Utah, neuroscientists are quantifying how exposure to nature can increase cognitive sharpness and even combat attention disorders.

During her 42 years as the Personal Health Columnist at The New York Times, Jane E. Brody has regularly reported on how a lack of physical activity can cause a host of health issues including childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and vitamin D deficiency. She has linked these issues to a decline in time spent outdoors, warning against the dangers of “Outdoor Deprivation Disorder.” But, according to Brody, the benefits of outdoor activity are becoming more widely acknowledged throughout the medical community, “a growing number of like-minded doctors have begun writing specific prescriptions for outdoor activity.”

The conclusion seems simple–if modern scientific data tells us that getting outside is good for our health, then we should make a point to venture outdoors on a regular basis. In Nature Fix, Williams recommends getting “quick bursts” of the natural world, and where better to do this than in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Join Prospect Park Alliance and its community partners for a variety of free and low-cost recreation and nature education activities year round. The Park boasts a 3.35-mile path for runners and bikers, the Long Meadow Ball Fields, the Parade Ground, the state-of-the-art LeFrak Center at Lakeside and a year-round Tennis Center. The Alliance also offers more than 800 public programs each year throughout the Park, which engage nearly 75,000 visitors. With so much exciting activity and stunning landscape, it is no wonder that the Park attracts more than 10 million visits each year.

 

Alliance and NYC Parks Break Ground on Stroud Playground

September 14, 2017

The Stroud Playground groundbreaking ceremony. Pictured left to right: State Assembly Member Walter Mosley, Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Marty Maher, City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Principle of PS316 Olga Maluf and Principal of MS353 Tricia Delauney.

On September 8, a groundbreaking ceremony in Crown Heights kicked off the $5 million redesign of Stroud Playground, which was undertaken pro-bono by Prospect Park Alliance as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative. The new design fits many amenities into a compact, one-acre space for the benefit of the community and the two schools it serves.

“The Alliance brought decades of expertise in designing award-winning playgrounds in Prospect Park to this project, and we were pleased to be able to contribute to the Community Parks Initiative,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. “We are thrilled to have worked on this new design for Stroud Playground that will strengthen and revitalize this cherished community space.”

The Community Parks Initiative is a citywide plan orchestrated by NYC Parks to renovate parks in communities with the greatest need through capital funding, programming and strategic partnerships. The project also received funding from Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

“It was a truly special experience working with the Prospect Park Alliance, Council Member Cumbo, and of course, the many passionate community members who came to our public input meeting to be a part of the design process,” Commissioner Silver said in a statement. “As a result, Stroud Playground will be transformed into a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Through a community engagement process, Crown Heights residents weighed in on what they hoped to see in the redesigned park. The innovative design by Prospect Park Alliance includes new play equipment for children of all ages and abilities, and an interactive spray shower. The basketball and handball courts are being expanded and a new synthetic turf area will accommodate open play. There will also be a new track and adult fitness equipment.

The landscape will be enhanced with a number of additional trees to help provide shade for the new seating area and benches, and beautify the space. A garden will serve as a quiet area for relaxation and serve as an outdoor classroom for PS 316 and MS 383 students. Security lighting and lower fencing will make the space safer and more inviting.

Stroud marks the Alliance’s first major design project outside Prospect Park. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. The Alliance is currently working on the redesign of Epiphany Playground in Williamsburg, also as part of the Community Parks Initiative.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s architecture and design team.

Mayor de Blasio Announces Prospect Park Will go Entirely Car-Free for the First Time this Summer

July 10, 2017

East Drive from Park Circle to Grand Army Plaza, now open to vehicles during weekday morning rush hours, will be car-free for two months from Monday, July 17 through the weekend after Labor Day

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Prospect Park in Brooklyn would go entirely car-free for the first time this summer.  Currently open to northbound traffic during the morning rush-hour, Prospect Park will be car-free 24/7 from Monday, July 17 until Monday, September 11th, the weekend after Labor Day.  Starting today, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with NYC Parks, will publicize Prospect Park East Drive’s new hours to affected drivers. 

“From getting married there to being a little-league parent inside Prospect Park, I can attest that it is a cool, even magical refuge this time of year,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “As we already saw when we made the Prospect Park West Drive car-free two years ago, a safer and quieter park improves the safety and enjoyment for thousands of park users – and has a negligible effect on traffic outside the park.   We are thrilled to bring even more of Prospect Park to even more of Brooklyn for the next couple months.”

“We are delighted to announce that Prospect Park for the rest of the summer will be completely car-free for the first time,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “Cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, young and old, can rejoice during these next couple warmer months in a safer and quieter park.”   

“New Yorkers look to their parks for green space and fresh air, especially in the heat of the summer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.  “Completely removing car traffic from Prospect Park turns one of our most historic sites back over to the kids, joggers, ball players, picnickers, and amblers who love it.  This summer, all visitors to Prospect Park will enjoy cleaner air, improved safety – and peace and quiet.”

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced that the West Drive of Prospect Park would be permanently car-free. Since that time, DOT has received a number of requests from the community and local officials to expand car-free hours to all of Prospect Park, which during the summer sees increased recreational use, including by several children’s day camps.  DOT is coordinating its efforts this summer with NYC Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance, and will be publicizing the change to drivers over the next week, using social media as well as VMS boards posted at the Park Circle entrance of the park. 

The East Drive of Prospect Park is currently open to northbound traffic between Park Circle and Grand Army Plaza from 7-9 a.m. on weekdays (except holidays).  According to DOT data, vehicle volumes on the East Drive are consistently lower during summer months: during a peak morning hour in the summer, fewer than 300 vehicles use the East Drive (a decline from over 400 hourly vehicles on a fall morning) while during a peak morning hour, the drive is used by nearly 1,000 pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.

The summertime car-free hours are also anticipated to have a negligible effect on travel times on alternative routes on streets around the park.  After the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, DOT studies showed that the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute after the West Drive went car-free, where other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve.  During the period of this summer’s East Drive closure, DOT will similarly collect data and conduct ongoing observations to determine the effect on alternate northbound routes during the morning rush period. 

“This summer, both sides of Prospect Park will enjoy the benefits of being car-free, a positive enhancement to my continuing efforts toward advancing park equity,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.  “Initiating this pilot has been a goal of my administration, community advocates, and local residents for a number of years. Parks are for people, and people from all across Brooklyn and beyond will enjoy a safer and more serene Prospect Park as a result of this initiative.”

“For countless New Yorkers, our city’s green spaces are a refuge. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about looking over their shoulder for on-coming traffic if they are out on a bike ride, going for a run, or taking a walk with their kids in a city park. Building on the success we’ve seen since the 2015 closure of Prospect Park’s West Drive, I’m excited we are taking another big step towards making Prospect Park car-free for good, by closing it off to cars through the end of the summer,” said Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Committee on Parks. 

“Prospect Park Alliance is excited to partner with NYCDOT and NYC Parks to pilot this car-free program this summer,” said Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that cares for the Park in partnership with the City. “A key part of our mission is engaging the community and enhancing the park experience, and we look forward to seeing how this works for all park users.”

Prospect Park 150: Catch A Summer Movie Under the Stars

July 6, 2017

In celebration of Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Prospect Park Alliance present A Summer Movie Under the Stars in partnership with Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Cinema. 

These free outdoor film screenings on Prospect Park’s Long Meadow North will feature live musical entertainment followed by family-friendly films carefully selected by Nitehawk’s cinema department, to highlight park themes such as the famed Prospect Park Zoo, summer camps, Little League Baseball and the exquisite flora and fauna.The full line-up is as follows:

  • Wednesday, July 19 – The NeverEnding Story
    Live entertainment by DJ Jane Elizabeth spinning a1980s music set
  • Wednesday, July 26 – The Sandlot
    Live entertainment by Doo Wop band
  • Wednesday, August 2 – Moonrise Kingdom
    Live entertainment by Morricone Youth
  • Wednesday, August 9 – Zootopia
    Live entertainment by Brooklyn United Marching Band

RSVP today for one or more of these screenings!

“What better way to celebrate 150 years of memories in Brooklyn’s backyard than making a few more under the stars with family and friends? Our exciting run of summer movies, paired with an equally exciting lineup of live entertainment, is a can’t-miss ticket for fun — and best of all, that ticket is free! I’m looking forward to joining my friends from the Alliance and Nitehawk Cinema in welcoming Brooklynites and visitors to enjoy these screenings,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.

“Our 150th celebration of Prospect Park is all about community, and what better way to gather with friends and neighbors than a free summer movie under the stars,” said Sue Donoghue, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “A big thanks to the Borough President, who has been a steadfast supporter of the Park, and also to Nitehawk Cinema for creating such a wonderful line up.”

“We’ve enjoyed offering free outdoor movies to the Brooklyn public nearly every year since our inception and it’s our pleasure to help celebrate Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary with family-friendly film programming spotlighting the park themes,” said Nitehawk Cinema founder Matthew Viragh. “The movies we’ve chosen are a mix of older classics we love and want to introduce to a younger generation, and newer films that are sure to please a wide range of ages. This will also give residents a taste of what’s to come at our next location Nitehawk Prospect Park.”

All live entertainment will start at 7 p.m. and films begin shortly after sundown at Long Meadow North, located nearest to the Grand Army Plaza entrance at Eastern Parkway. The closest subway station is the Eastern Parkway Brooklyn Museum stop on the 2, 3, and 4 lines. There are no rain dates in the event of inclement weather.  

For more information, maps and directions, visit: www.prospectpark.org/summermovie

A Summer Movie Under the Stars is made possible with additional support from HBO and Investors Bank.