Tag: Kids

Celebrate Earth Day in Prospect Park

March 11, 2025

Earth Day is nearly here! Get involved and help Prospect Park Alliance care for Brooklyn’s Backyard—home to Brooklyn’s last remaining forest, only lake and countless of species of plants and wildlife. Celebrate your planet this upcoming Earth Day through an upcoming volunteer event and family friendly nature program.

Park Pitch In: Earth Day Service
Saturday, April 19, 11 am–2 pm
Parkside + Ocean Avenue Entrance, Free, Registration Required
This Earth Day, give back to Brooklyn’s Backyard by caring for Prospect Park’s trees. Volunteer with Prospect Park Alliance to support our urban oasis by caring for street trees along the park perimeter, cultivating soil, laying down mulch, and removing litter from the tree beds along Parkside + Ocean Avenue.
Appropriate for groups, teens ages 14+ and adults.
Register as an Individual or Register as a Group

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Earth Day in Prospect Park
Sunday, April 20, 10 am–1 pm
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free
Join Prospect Park Alliance and Audubon NY this Earth Day for a day of celebrating our planet’s natural beauty and raising awareness about bird species that call it home. Learn about park stewardship and the ways we can all be Park Champions to support these feathered friends through various seasonal activities, hands-on crafts and nature walks to celebrate Earth Day.

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

8 Ways to Welcome Fall in Brooklyn’s Backyard

October 8, 2024

Fall has arrived in Prospect Park, and just around the corner is a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow foliage. As the air turns crisp, Prospect Park Alliance has plenty of ideas for how you can celebrate the season in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Did you know the park is home to 30,000 trees and miles of woodland trails? Take a Fall foliage walk to truly enjoy the season. Also try your hand in birdwatching: according to a number of bird experts, this weekend alone hundreds of thousands of birds will pass through the City on their way south for the winter during a major spike in migration, which will continue all season long. Here’s your guide to experiencing the best of fall in our beloved park:

1. Fall Foliage Walks

Check out Prospect Park Alliance’s favorite walking route for fall foliage destinations this autumn. From vibrant vistas at the Peninsula, colorful hues on Lookout Hill, tall maples and London Planes along the Nethermead and Lullwater, and much more. Don’t miss the peak of fall foliage right around the corner, near the end of October!

2. Soar Into Fall Migration Season

Fall bird migration is in full swing, and Prospect Park is the place to be. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Prospect Park is a haven for birds in all seasons, with 200+ species of resident and migratory birds. Autumn is an especially notable time for bird sightings as countless feathered friends embark on their lengthy journey to warmer climates. The park is a crucial rest stop for these species providing a critical haven for migratory birds to fuel up on seeds, berries and insects and find valuable protection as they venture south. Join the Brooklyn Bird Club and Prospect Park Alliance for Prospect Park Fall Migration Walks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in October.

3. Volunteer in the Park: Park Pitch-Ins, Fall Fix Ups + Junior Volunteer Corps

Free, RSVP Required

Fall also presents an amazing time to deepen your commitment to Brooklyn’s Backyard by becoming a volunteer. From one-day Park Pitch-in, Fall Fix Up and Junior Volunteer Corps events, to more committed opportunities to work alongside Prospect Park Alliance gardeners with our EcoZone Volunteer Crew, there are many ways to get involved, stay active and enjoy the park in peak fall foliage season.

4. Explore Nature at the Prospect Park Audubon Center

Learn more about nature with your little ones during free fall nature activities at the Audubon Center at the Boathouse Saturdays and Sundays through November. Make art out of fallen leaves, introduce your child to animals in the Audubon Center’s collection and explore on a fall nature walk to learn more about how the park’s insect and plant life prepare for seasonal changes. Plus, enjoy Friday Wellness Walks starting from the Boathouse and strolling through fall park beauty including scenic trails along the Lullwater, Peninsula, Midwood or Waterfall. Want to bring your little, little ones along? Join for Stroller Walks past park waterways and through fall foliage on Thursdays through November.

5. Enjoy Fall Carousel Rides

Take an autumn ride on Prospect Park’s beloved 1912 Carousel. Open Thursdays–Sundays, and holidays, 12–5 pm, this treasured historic attraction features magnificent carved horses, lions, giraffes and deer. Plus, don’t be scared when you see the Carousel haunted on October 22, 23 and 31! Take a spin on the spooky ride to your favorite Halloween jams at the beloved, magical landmark in the Children’s Corner.

6. View Public Art in Brooklyn’s Backyard

Visit the Long Live J’ouvert Pop Up Installation, on-view at the tollbooth outside of Lefferts Historic House through Sunday, November 3 celebrating the powerful traditions of the Caribbean diaspora and Carnival season. Plus, don’t miss ReImagine Artist in Residence, Adama Delphine Fawundu’s site specific installation Ancestral Whispers. The collection is informed by Prospect Park Alliance’s research into the lives of Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. View the exterior installation daily + view the interior installation during open hours from 12–4 pm on Saturdays + Sundays through December 1.

7. Free Fitness Walks for Adults 60+

Free, RSVP

Join Prospect Park Alliance and Heights and Hills for Free Fitness Walks in Prospect Park for Adults Ages 60+ this fall on Thursdays from October 17 through November 7. Led by Matt Abrams, Director of the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging, these group walks are a great way to explore the park and get tips on how to stay active—especially for those with arthritis.

8. Ace the Season at the Tennis Center

Register for Programs

Prefer an indoor activity this fall? The indoor tennis season kicks off Monday, October 21 at the Prospect Park Tennis Center. Register little ones of any age and any level of experience for intensive group instruction through the Junior Development Program. Or work on your tennis skills on your own or with friends through the Adult Beginner Classes or the more advanced Adult Tennis Program. Sign up for a seasonal court or lessons today.

c. Martin Seck

Halloween Fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard

Prospect Park Alliance is gearing up for Halloween fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard with Creepy Crawly Halloween at the Audubon Center and the Haunted Carousel at the beloved Children’s Corner in Prospect Park! Don’t miss these fun filled festive events.

Ghostbusters vs Beetlejuice Halloween Dreamland Roller Disco
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Starting at $28.45
Friday, October 25, 7–10pm 
Roller skate season will continue through Monday, October 28. Enjoy the last weekend of roller skating in Prospect Park with a spooky twist! Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco as part of Lakeside Roller Dance Night Series in Prospect Park is a themed, dress up, immersive roller skating experience that will transport you into a fabulous retro roller disco “dreamland.”

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Halloween Fest 2024
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Admissison: $25.24
Saturday, October 27, 11:30 am–6 pm

Join for the second annual Lakeside Halloween Fest featuring rolling skating, bumper cars, game zone, arts & crafts and cookie decorating.

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Hoot and Howloween
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free
Saturday, October 27, 10 am–1 pm

Take a second look at the creatures that crawl around and fly in the park, you may find you like them! Participate in fun activities and experiments that will make your spine tingle at Prospect Park Alliance Natureween!

Owl Pellet Dissection 10–1 pm
Participants will have the opportunity to pick apart owl pellets, masses of undigested parts of food that owl species occasionally regurgitate!

Nature Chef’s Surprise! 11 am–12 pm
Our nature chef has some tasty treats for you to try that are delicious, nutritious, and crunchy! Take a nibble and earn a special certificate and boasting button. Learn how this mystery treat is a sustainable alternative protein source that has nutritional benefits.

Bug Explorations 12–1 pm
Participants will explore under logs, leaves and branches and you may come eye to eye with Prospect Park nature’s creepy insect residents!

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Haunted Carousel
Saturday, October 26 – Sunday, October 27 + Thursday, October 31, 12–5 pm
Prospect Park Carousel, $3 per ride; $13 for a book of 5 tickets; Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.
Don’t be scared when you see the haunted carousel! Take a spin on the spooky ride to your favorite Halloween jams at the beloved Prospect Park Carousel.
Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter  level and your family (up to 4 people) will receive unlimited rides on the Carousel for a full year!

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Prospect Park Murder Mystery Audio Tour
Gesso App, Free
Enjoy a thrilling murder mystery audio-tour, set in Prospect Park. When a key player goes missing at the marriage ceremony of the summer, reluctant wedding columnist Bobbi Rossetti transforms into an ad hoc investigative reporter on the case. Follow Bobbi through a fictional version of 1920s Prospect Park as she decodes the clues and uncovers a stunning secret in this immersive audio mystery. All you need are headphones and the Gesso mobile app to get started!
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c. Caroline Ourso

Alliance Cuts the Ribbon on Accessible Fitness Area

August 6, 2024

In July, Prospect Park Alliance joined Council Member Shahana Hanif and community members from Good Neighbors of Park Slope to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the Adult Fitness Area and Harmony Playground Improvements in Prospect Park! Funded through District 39 Participatory Budgeting, the expanded fitness area offers new equipment that is accessible for people of all abilities in our community so that everyone can make the most of health and wellness in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Improvements also include new seating, plantings and safety surface to enhance the visitor experience, as well as a new sandbox sunshade structure at the adjacent playground.

“Prospect Park is a destination for health and wellness in countless ways—whether you come to the park to spend time in our serene woodlands, to exercise, take part in an event or public program, and so much more—we all can feel the ways in which the park is essential to our community,” shares Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco. “The Alliance’s founding mission is to ensure that the park is accessible to everyone, and that all feel welcomed and able to make the most of all that Brooklyn’s Backyard has to offer. Key to this goal is having intergenerational park destinations like our fitness area at Harmony Playground, which is an intergenerational destination for wellness and allows our community to be their happiest, healthiest selves.”

 

The project was advocated for by Community Members of Good Neighbors of Park Slope, whose members joined the ribbon cutting for a demonstration of the accessible fitness equipment. c. Caroline Ourso

Through this funding, the Alliance has also enhanced Harmony Playground with a sandbox shade structure to help a beloved park playground remain an accessible space for fun even throughout the hot summer months. The last phase of the project will restore the adjacent lawn areas at the Bandshell, and work will begin this fall.

Learn more about Capital Projects + improvements underway in Prospect Park.

c. Virginia Freire

Spring Break in Prospect Park

April 3, 2024

Enjoy your Spring Break with Prospect Park Alliance! Visit Prospect Park for family-friendly activities at Prospect Park Audubon Center, Carousel and LeFrak Center at Lakeside.

Nature Exploration Activities
Prospect Park Audubon Center 
April 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

The ingredients needed to produce the next generation of trees are found within nuts, cones and fruit. Join a naturalist and learn about seeds and the birds who eat them through hands-on crafts and activities. Continue your learning outside the park by potting your own take home plant.

  • Savvy Seeds 12 – 1 pm: Get hands-on with a few of Prospect Park’s Savvy seeds. Learn how different plants produce offspring by persuading pollinators and how they protect and disperse their seeds. 
  • Sow a Seed 1 – 2 pm: Learn about the survival needs of seeds and have the opportunity to plant a seed in your own custom planter made out of recycled paper.
  • Animal Encounter 2 – 3 pm: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s Collection. 
  • Nature on the Go! 3 – 4 pm: An Alliance Naturalist will lead children and families to areas near the Audubon Center, where you can learn about the nature that is all around us.

Roller Skating in Prospect Park
LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Daily beginning Thursday, April 18

Mark your calendars, it’s almost time to kick-off the roller skating season in Prospect Park! Roll into spring starting Thursday, April 18 for daily roller skating sessions in the heart of Brooklyn’s Backyard. Visit prospectpark.org/lakeside for more details.

Carousel Rides
Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets 
Monday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 30, 12-5pm

Celebrate the start of spring with a ride on Prospect Park’s beloved 1912 Carousel. Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher. Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter level or above and enjoy unlimited free rides!

Tennis Center April Adult + Junior Holiday Programs

April 22-26, 2024 1–4 pm, $85 per day
Players must register in advance.
The Prospect Park Tennis Center offers intensive group instruction for adults and children of all levels of experience. Our accomplished staff of tennis professionals gives players personal attention while they acquire game fundamentals and increase their skill level.

c. Prospect Park Alliance

Get to Know the New Carousel Manager

April 2, 2024

Have you met the friendly new face at Prospect Park’s beloved Carousel? Longtime Brooklynite, David Rabig, is Prospect Park Alliance’s new Carousel Manager. The Carousel season has kicked off and park goers can stop by the historic park destination from 12 – 5 pm on Thursdays – Sundays to take a spin and say hello to David. As the season kicks off, get to know David and hear about his passion for the power of imagination and excitement for the season ahead.

With a lifelong passion for hospitality, imagination and working with kids, David has lived near Prospect Park for many years and wondered if there was a place for him in the park and what that might look like. “When I saw the Carousel Manager job description–it hit so many points that I felt were really well suited for me and merged my experiences working with kids, maintenance handiwork and hospitality. I’m just so thrilled to be a part of it.” 

Previously, David worked at a theater education company called Child’s Play New York which hosts afterschool programs for elementary school aged kids. In his search for this role, David shares, “It’s important to me to be in a role where I can be around kids and embrace imaginative play, laughter and joy.” 

David shares his awe in the craftsmanship behind the carousel “It’s remarkable just how unbelievably solid it is. It reminds me a lot of The Cyclone on Coney Island, which works incredibly well and is really cool since it’s been around for more than 100 years.” The Carousel’s unique and storied carving style is also a highlight, “I feel like the horses may look a little scary at first and then you start looking at more details and they become more beautiful the more you look at them. The Coney Island style that the Carousel’s artist, Charles Carmel, used shows the horses in-action huffing and puffing and bearing their teeth in a really unique way.” 

In the season ahead, David most looks forward to crafting an environment where kids are smiling and laughing. “Kids show up waiting at the gate for the Carousel to open and the wonder that you see in their eyes is just fantastic.” David says his main goal in the role is simple: to make everyone feel like they belong at the Carousel; that they are welcome there and that it’s a place for kids to be themselves. For the few minutes that the ride is on, David hopes that kids can feel like that’s their horse, and can experience the feeling of excitement and specialness that comes with that.

Stop by and see the beloved Carousel horses and say hello to David this season from from 12 – 5 pm on Thursday – Sunday and holidays.

c. Martin Seck

Halloween Fun in Prospect Park

October 16, 2023

Prospect Park Alliance is gearing up for Halloween fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard with Creepy Crawly Halloween at the Audubon Center, Haunted Carousel at the beloved Children’s Corner in Prospect Park and the final weekend of J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience at the Lefferts Historic House! Don’t miss these fun filled festive events.

Halloween Fest at Lakeside
Sunday, October 22, 11 – 2 pm + 2:30 – 5:30 pm
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, $22
Celebrate Halloween with spooky festivities at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside! Enjoy roller skating, bumper cars, a game zone, arts and crafts, and cookie decorating. Families can skate in costume and enjoy a festive goody bag with halloween treats.

Creepy Crawly Halloween
Saturday, October 28, 11 am-4 pm
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free 
Join Prospect Park Alliance at the Audubon Center for a special Halloween celebration. Take a second look at the creatures that give you the creeps, you may find you like them! Participate in fun activities and experiments that will make your spine tingle!

Nature Chef’s Surprise, 1 – 3 pm
Our nature chef has some tasty treats for you to try that are delicious, nutritious, and crunchy!  Take a nibble and earn a special certificate and boasting button.  Learn how this mystery treat is a sustainable alternative protein source that has nutritional benefits.

Discovery Boxes, 12 – 3 pm
What’s inside?  Put your hand in and find out with a fun sensory activity with just the right amount of scary!

Creepy Crawly Walk, 3-4 pm
Participants will search for Prospect Park’s creepy residents and explore hidden areas of the park.

Haunted Carousel
Saturday, October 28 + Sunday, October 29, 12–4 pm
Prospect Park Carousel

Children’s Corner, $3 per ride; $13 for a book of 5 tickets; Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.
Don’t be scared when you see the haunted carousel! Take a spin on the spooky ride to your favorite Halloween jams at the beloved Prospect Park Carousel.
Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter  level and your family (up to 4 people) will receive unlimited rides on the Carousel for a full year!

Spookysburg Trick or Eat Extravaganza
Sunday, October 29, 12 — 6 pm
Breeze Hill, Prices Vary
Smorgasburg turns into Spookysburg, a family-friendly fall fest marking the last day of the season, and here’s what we’ve got lined up! Festivities include a Halloween Hunt and Prize BOO-nanza, a pet costume contest, KidZone nad much more!

J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience
Saturdays + Sundays in October, 12 – 4 pm
Lefferts Historic House, Free
While it’s not halloween-themed, the vibrant costumes of J’ouvert Genesis Immersive experience are not to be missed this October! Join Prospect Park Alliance, JouvayFest Collective and City Lore for the J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience — an exploration of the rich and colorful history of J’ouvert in Trinidad & Tobago and its important role in Brooklyn today through life-sized traditional J’ouvert character costumes, signature percussive instruments, large-format photography, virtual reality and more. The exhibit closes Sunday, November 19 – don’t miss it!

Prospect Park Murder Mystery Audio Tour
Gesso App, Free
Enjoy a thrilling murder mystery audio-tour, set in Prospect Park. When a key player goes missing at the marriage ceremony of the summer, reluctant wedding columnist Bobbi Rossetti transforms into an ad hoc investigative reporter on the case. Follow Bobbi through a fictional version of 1920s Prospect Park as she decodes the clues and uncovers a stunning secret in this immersive audio mystery. All you need are headphones and the Gesso mobile app to get started!

Nature Exploration

June 6, 2023

Join Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.

Nature Around Us, 12–3 pm:  Enjoy different seasonal discovery stations and nature themed activities that will introduce you to the plants, insects and animals that call the park home.

    • June: Discover how nature recycles by learning about the fascinating cycle of decomposition in our urban forest.
    • July: Get to know pollinators and find out why they are so important and why they need our help.
    • August – Labor Day:  The Lake and Lullwater are home to many plants and animals. Help us to test the water quality and investigate pond samples that are filled with living organisms.

Animal Encounter, 2–3 pm: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. This program starts promptly at 2 pm.

Family Bird Walk, 3–4 pm: Prospect Park is a stopping point for hundreds of bird species each year! Join us as we search for these amazing creatures and other nature around the park. Binoculars and bird guides are provided. This program departs from the Audubon Center promptly at 3 pm.

Movie Nights in Prospect Park Return for 2023

May 31, 2023

Spend your summer nights in Prospect Park with Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn, the free, outdoor movie series presented by Paramount+ and Brooklyn Magazine, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Prospect Park Alliance.

The series will take place on Prospect Park’s Long Meadow on four consecutive Wednesdays starting July 26, and continues the longstanding summer movie series offered in Prospect Park for many years through the support of the Borough President. This year, join us on the north end of the Long Meadow for Top Gun: Maverick, Bring It On, The Nutty Professor (1996), and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn will offer nostalgic classics and feel-good fan favorites for all ages. The themes throughout are connectivity, perseverance, friendship, family, self-empowerment, creativity, fantasy, and fun — just what we could all use this summer.

“There’s nothing better than Brooklyn in the summertime, especially the memories of summer as a kid. We’re in luck that nostalgia is the theme of our “Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn” series this summer,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m thrilled to bring a selection of classic movies, and films we know will become classics, to Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park, and McCarren Park throughout the summer. I look forward to getting this program started and want to extend my deep thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy for their partnership.”

“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 series,” adds Morgan Monaco, President, Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park. “We also are delighted to partner with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy to expand the series to our sister park for an even better season of outdoor fun.”

In addition to the movie nights in Prospect Park, the series will kick off with four consecutive Thursday evenings beginning Thursday, June 29, in Fort Greene Park, in partnership with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and end with four final evenings starting Sunday, August 20, in McCarren Park.

Prospect Park Movie Lineup:

Top Gun: Maverick
July 26
After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

Bring It On
August 2
A champion high school cheerleading squad discovers its previous captain stole all their best routines from another school and must scramble to compete at this year’s championships.

The Nutty Professor (1996)
August 9
Good-hearted professor Sherman Klump takes a special chemical that turns him into the obnoxious Buddy Love.

Guardians of the Galaxy
August 16
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.

RSVP now to let us know you’re attending the summer film series at Prospect Park. This event 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. The closest subway stations are the Grand Army Plaza and the Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum stops on the 2, 3 lines or the B41 bus lines. Please note that the movie may be cancelled in the case of inclement weather. Please visit prospectpark.org and  Prospect Park Alliance’s social media channels for up-to-date information.

Martin Seck

Nature Exploration

May 18, 2023

Join Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.

Nature Around Us, 12–3 pm:  Enjoy different seasonal discovery stations and nature themed activities that will introduce you to the plants, insects and animals that call the park home.

    • June: Discover how nature recycles by learning about the fascinating cycle of decomposition in our urban forest.
    • July: Get to know pollinators and find out why they are so important and why they need our help.
    • August – Labor Day:  The Lake and Lullwater are home to many plants and animals. Help us to test the water quality and investigate pond samples that are filled with living organisms.

Animal Encounter, 2–3 pm: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. This program starts promptly at 2 pm.

Family Bird Walk, 3–4 pm: Prospect Park is a stopping point for hundreds of bird species each year! Join us as we search for these amazing creatures and other nature around the park. Binoculars and bird guides are provided. This program departs from the Audubon Center promptly at 3 pm.