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Articles by Laura Robinson
TLC For Trees in Brooklyn’s Backyard
October 8, 2024 Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest: more than 30,000 trees of more than 175 species that keep our air clean, provide shade and cooler temperatures on hot summer days and a haven for wildlife year-round.
Legacy in Landscapes: Christian Zimmerman
For nearly three and a half decades, Christian Zimmerman, Prospect Park Alliance’s Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architecture, has overseen the dramatic transformation of Prospect Park after decades of deterioration and decline, stewarding this world-class landmark and beloved community destination.
City Releases New Budget with Funding for Prospect Park
On July 1, the City began a new budget year. Thanks to the dedicated advocacy of community members and our elected officials Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s flagship park, received both capital and expense allocations to keep the park green and thriving.
Fuel Up! Free Lunch + Food Benefits in Prospect Park
Fuel up this summer in Prospect Park! Did you know that eating healthy foods can increase your lifespan, reduce risks of chronic disease and even boost your mood and support mental health?
Prospect Park Alliance Brings Purslane Cafe to the Boathouse
News See All News June 27, 2024 Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Brooklyn’s Backyard in partnership with the City, has announced the opening of Purslane Cafe, which will provide healthy, sustainably sourced food and coffee beverages at the iconic Prospect Park Boathouse terrace starting Thursday, July 4.
Prospect Park Alliance Unveils ReImagine Lefferts Interpretive Plan
June 11, 2024 Prospect Park Alliance has partnered with Ralph Appelbaum Associates, designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture amongst many others globally, to create a new interpretive plan for the Lefferts Historic House museum that shifts the museum’s focus to explore the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts...
5 Tips to Celebrate National Trails Day
News See All News May 31, 2024 June 1 is National Trails Day and the kick off of our Be a Park Champion campaign in Prospect Park! Enjoy the wood-chipped trails in Prospect Park, and pledge to leave your park better than you found it every day. Prospect Park’s 585 acres are home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest and only Lake. Prospect Park Alliance sustains these scenic spaces for the benefit of our community and the flora and fauna that call it home.
Lefferts Kicks Off 2024 Season
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.
Movie Nights in Prospect Park Return for 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.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Announces 2024 Lineup
News See All News 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.
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 at the Boathouse Sunday, April 28 12 pm — 5 pm Take part in family-friendly nature activities at the Boathouse on Sunday, April 28.
Alliance + Health Department Offer Free Wellness Resources
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Prospect Park Alliance 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.
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.
Prospect Park Signage System Survey
News See All News 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:
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.
Shirley Chisholm Welcome Center Community Outreach
News See All News February 8, 2024 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...
Prospect Park Alliance Unveils Art Installation at Grand Army Plaza
News See All News February 8, 2024 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.
Prospect Park Alliance Announces Artist In Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu
Prospect Park Alliance has announced the first Artist in Residence at Lefferts Historic House Museum. Brooklyn Artist Adama Delphine Fawundu will create a monumental, site-specific installation informed by new research from the Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts Initiative, which seeks to focus interpretation at the museum on the resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking whose unceded ancestral lands the house rests upon and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.
Free Winter Wellness in Prospect Park
Ward off the winter blues this season by exploring your park and getting active. Spending time in nature has known positive impacts on mental and physical health–and winter is no exception. Research shows that being in nature in all seasons can improve focus, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, boost your immune system, accelerate recovery from illness, and increase energy levels so you can kick off 2024 feeling like your best self.
BK Reader Features Adrian Clarke
December 11, 2023 Prospect Park Tennis Center Director Adrian Clarke was recently featured by BK Reader. Get to know Adrian, learn about what drew him to tennis and what sparked his longtime passion for steel pan drumming. An excerpt from the December 8 story Steel Pan Drums and Tennis: The Double Life of Brooklyn’s Adrian Clarke: Growing up in Barbados, Adrian Clarke surrounded himself with two things: tennis and music.
HOLIDAY PARADES HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND IN METRO DETROIT
Missed the Thanksgiving parade? No problem. Catch up on the festivities with these much-anticipated celebrations. Right down to a custom-made Santa Sleigh – these communities are committed to bringing the holiday spirit alive! Find your spot and enjoy dazzling lights, giant floats, lively entertainment, and the star of the show, Santa! It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.
Shanna Sabio’s Guide to Black-Owned Businesses in Flatbush
Flatbush, a neighborhood that borders the southeast corner of Prospect Park is a must-visit destination for delving into Brooklyn history, art, food, fashion and more. Prospect Park Alliance spoke with Flatbush civic leader and born-and-raised Brooklynite, Shanna Sabio, about her work in the area as well as her take on the must-visit Black-owned spots throughout Flatbush.
New Art Installation at the Bandshell
News See All News November 14, 2023 Prospect Park Alliance and BRIC, a leading contemporary, multi-disciplinary arts and media institution anchored in downtown Brooklyn, in partnership with NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program present a mural by Kevin Claiborne, Lost Boys, at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park. This is the fourth annual public art collaboration between BRIC and the Alliance at the Bandshell, and the piece will be on view through April 21, 2024.
Ribbon Cut on New Fallkill Trail in Prospect Park
Prospect Park Alliance cut the ribbon on a new woodland trail in Prospect Park. Fallkill Trail (directions here), located in an area that has been behind fencing since 1995, will now invite park visitors to get a closer look at the scenic Fallkill Waterfall and experience the beauty and serenity of Prospect Park’s restored urban forest.
Woodlands Youth Crew's Successful Season
If you took a stroll through Prospect Park’s scenic woodlands this summer, there’s a good chance you spotted the Summer Woodlands Youth Crew members hard at work on restoration projects to keep the park’s woodland areas healthy and vibrant. The Woodlands Youth Crew is an essential part of the Alliance’s force that works to restore and sustain Brooklyn’s essential forest. The program, which offers spring, summer and fall sessions, is team-based with a focus on collaboration and teamwork.
Open House New York in Prospect Park
Mark your calendar! Registration for Open House New York begins Monday, October 9 for events city-wide including exciting happenings in Brooklyn’s Backyard! Join Prospect Park Alliance for a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly restored Lefferts Historic House and a tour of the Prospect Park Vale with an inside look at the upcoming restoration to make it more welcoming and accessible to all Brooklyn residents.
City of Forest Day in Prospect Park
September 20, 2023 Join Prospect Park Alliance at the second annual City of Forest Day on Saturday, October 14 in Prospect Park. Presented by Forest for All NYC in partnership with the Parks and Open Space Partners – NYC Coalition and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Forest Day is a day of activities across the city to raise awareness of the importance of the New York City urban forest, and the essential role New Yorkers play every day in caring for the “lungs” of our city.
Community Visioning Sessions: Lincoln Road and Third Street Playground Restorations
News See All News September 20, 2023 Join Prospect Park Alliance for a series of community workshops to envision the future of the Lincoln Road and Third Street Playgrounds. Both playgrounds are being restored through $3 million each in funding from Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the City, respectively. These sessions will help inform the design of the restored playgrounds, which will go into reconstruction in 2025.
September is Tree Appreciation Month!
September has arrived and Prospect Park Alliance is ringing in Tree Appreciation Month! Be a Park Champion and help us extend our Summer of Stewardship into the fall. Prospect Park is home to over 30,000 trees of over 175 varieties—and each plays an essential role in keeping our human and wildlife communities healthy and happy.
Soar Into Fall Migration in Brooklyn’s Backyard
Fall bird migration is in full swing and Prospect Park is the place to be for those looking to catch a glimpse of some of the 200+ species of resident and migratory birds in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Prospect Park is a haven for birds in all seasons, but autumn brings an especially notable time for bird sightings as countless feathered friends embark on their lengthy journey to warmer climates.
Free Fall Wellness Opportunities in Prospect Park
News See All News September 6, 2023 Ever wonder what exactly it is about a walk in the park that makes you feel more at ease? Spending time in nature, green spaces, and specifically forests have known positive impacts on mental and physical health, and the benefits don’t stop at stress reduction alone. Research shows that being in nature can improve focus, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, boost your immune system, accelerate recovery from illness, and increase energy levels.
Monument to Honor Shirley Chisholm Moves Forward
A tribute to a hero is coming to Brooklyn’s Backyard! The design of the Shirley Chisholm monument, at the Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrance to Prospect Park has been unanimously approved by the New York City Public Design Commission. The monument will pay homage to Brooklyn trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.
Vale Restoration Moves Forward
Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains the park in partnership with the city, announced the successful conclusion of the public review process for the restoration of the Vale in the northeast corner of Prospect Park, with approval by the New York City Public Design Commission. This is the capstone of a multi-year outreach and design process which engaged thousands of local community members in reenvisioning this landscape.
An Inside Look: J’ouvert Comes to Life at Lefferts
Kick off your J’ouvert celebration in Brooklyn’s Backyard! Prospect Park Alliance, JouvayFest Collective and City Lore have opened the J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience at the Lefferts Historic House. The exhibit is part of ReImagine Lefferts, the Alliance’s initiative to re-envision the mission and programming at Lefferts Historic House to focus programming on the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.
Morgan Monaco Recognized in Brooklyn Power 100
News See All News August 3, 2023 Notice a familiar face in the ranks of City & State’s 2023 Brooklyn Power 100 list? Prospect Park Alliance President and Park Administrator, Morgan Monaco has claimed a spot alongside Prospect Park Alliance Board Chair Iris Weinshall in the roundup of influential Brooklynites including community leaders, elected officials, cultural trailblazers and more.
August is Waterways Appreciation Month
News See All News July 5, 2023 Did you know? The watercourse that flows through Prospect Park is a haven for fish, birds, turtles, frogs and plants. This August, we hope you’ll join us in being a Park Champion as we celebrate Waterways Appreciation Month. Lend a Hand in Brooklyn’s Backyard All month long, Prospect Park Alliance has opportunities for you to lend a hand and support the park ecosystem.
Prospect Park Alliance Brings Lark to the Parade Ground
Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Brooklyn’s Backyard, has announced that the popular Flatbush eatery Lark Cafe will be opening a new seasonal location at the Prospect Park Parade Ground Snack Bar. This location, called Lark by the Park, will be open beginning on July 28. Lark by the Park will offer a menu of mouthwatering options including pizza, smash burgers, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, milkshakes, hot dogs and more.
July is Wildlife Month!
News See All News July 12, 2023 Prospect Park Alliance’s Summer of Stewardship continues, and this July is Wildlife Month! Prospect Park’s 585 acres are a critical habitat for countless wildlife species who call the park home. This month, get to know these wonderful species and learn how you can #BeAParkChampion and help them thrive. Test Your Park Wildlife Knowledge: Did you know that you can find over 250 species of birds in Prospect Park? Or where the park’s chipmunks go in the winter?
Two Rustic Bridges Get a Refresh
If you’ve wandered through the center of Prospect Park in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that two beloved bridges are getting an upgrade. Work is underway to improve Binnen Bridge, originally designed in the late 1870’s and located near the Boathouse at Binnen Falls, and Music Grove Bridge, which is located near the Nethermead and was constructed in 1887 in conjunction with the nearby Music Pagoda.
July is Waterways Appreciation Month
News See All News July 5, 2023 Did you know? The watercourse that flows through Prospect Park is a haven for fish, birds, turtles, frogs and plants. This July, we hope you’ll join us in being a Park Champion as we celebrate Waterways Appreciation Month. Join a Park Pitch In All July, Prospect Park Alliance has opportunities for you to lend a hand with Park Pitch In days! Join us for clean up projects on select Saturdays and Sundays.
Prospect Park Alliance Remembers Ibrahim Abdul-Matin
News See All News June 23, 2023 Prospect Park Alliance is saddened to learn of the passing of environmental activist, urban strategist, author, and former Prospect Park Alliance Youth Program Director, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, who passed away on June 21, 2023. He was 46 and is survived by his wife and children. In recent years, he preferred to write his name in lowercase – ibrahim abdul-matin.
Lefferts Ribbon Cutting
Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined elected officials, civic leaders and other community members to celebrate the restoration and reopening of Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park’s 18th-century Flatbush farmhouse museum, which is jointly operated by the Alliance, the nonprofit that sustains the park, and the Historic House Trust.
Margaret Ring: Mayor of Prospect Park
News See All News June 6, 2023 If you’ve taken a ride on Prospect Park’s carousel, rented a paddle boat, or visited the Parade Ground or former Wollman Rink in the past 26 years, you’ve likely come across–and befriended–Margaret Ring. Margaret is Prospect Park Alliance’s former Carousel Manager and a staff member for over two-and-a-half decades, who has just celebrated her retirement after a storied tenure in Brooklyn’s Backyard.
Sun Power for Parks
News See All News June 6, 2023 Walking through Brooklyn’s Backyard on any given day, it’s clear that creativity is key for the Prospect Park Alliance Landscape Management team. Their essential work to sustain the park’s natural areas has included an array of unlikely, environmentally friendly techniques that make use of everything from cardboard and piles of leaves to even sheets of plastic.
June is Health + Wellness Month!
News See All News May 31, 2023 Did you know that time in nature can reduce stress, improve your mood and boost your physical health? Prospect Park Alliance is kicking off our Summer of Stewardship with exciting opportunities to Be a Park Champion and care for your park, while making the most of the health and wellness benefits offered by nature.
Movie Nights in Prospect Park Return
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 Prospect Park Alliance, Fort Greene Park Conservancy and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The series will take place on Prospect Park’s Long Meadow, and continues the longstanding summer movie series offered in Prospect Park for many years through the support of the Borough President.
National Trails Day in Prospect Park
News See All News May 31, 2023 Be a Park Champion this National Trails Day in Prospect Park! Saturday, June 3, is the 31st annual National Trails Day, a day to celebrate your local trails alongside community members and pledge to leave your trail better than you found it every day of the year. Prospect Park’s 585 acres are home to Brooklyn’s last remaining forest.
Free Health + Wellness Events in Prospect Park
News See All News May 24, 2023 Did you know that spending just 15 minutes in nature can decrease stress and promote wellbeing?
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