Prospect Park

Prospect Park is an urban park in Brooklyn, New York, covering 526 acres (213 hectares) with meadows, wooded sections, and a 60-acre (24-hectare) lake, surrounded by walking paths and recreation areas. The park comprises several zones, including open lawns in the center, dense woodland in the south, and a network of trails for walkers and cyclists around the water.

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed the park beginning in 1867, after completing Central Park in Manhattan. Work continued for over two decades, transforming farmland and marshes into a planned landscape for Brooklyn's growing population.

The name Prospect comes from colonial times when the hilltop in the northwest offered wide views over the surrounding countryside. Today visitors gather there for picnics, jogging, or casual ball games, while others explore the paths along the water or through the woods.

Several subway stations and bus lines serve the different entrances, allowing visitors to reach any part of the grounds easily. The park offers dedicated bike lanes, benches along the paths, and public restrooms near the main areas.

The Long Meadow runs for 90 acres (36 hectares) without interruption, forming the longest continuous grass expanse in any North American urban park. This wide open lawn was part of Olmsted's vision to give visitors the feeling of being far outside the city, even though neighborhoods surround it.

Location: Brooklyn

Inception: October 18, 1867

Architects: Frederick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux

Phone: +1(718)9658951

Website: https://prospectpark.org

GPS coordinates: 40.66143,-73.97035

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44