Although visitors to New York City often flock to Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park offers the same large space with similar amenities, but a fraction of the visitors, as well as a bit more serenity. Recently, we visited Prospect Park to go to the Prospect Park Zoo and were shocked that there were only a few other people visiting the park. Overall, the park is extremely quiet, making it a nice get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city and we were a bit amazed at how quiet the park was, making it easy to forget we were in the middle of Brooklyn. The park is rather centrally located in Brooklyn, making it a meeting point for the entire borough. Several subway stops are along the outside of the park making it quite accessible.

Within the park there is various activities visitors can partake in including, walking, biking, picnicking, baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, birdwatching, football, fishing, tennis, a splash pad, roller skating, ice skating (in winter), a boat house with paddle boats, or just relaxing in the park. The park also has different festivals, activities, and events throughout the year including nature programs, walking tours, Smorgasburg on Sundays in the summer, children’s programs, marathons, and initiatives to preserve the environment, as well as a bandshell in the park which hosts talks, concerts, performances, and the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, which is a performing arts festival throughout the summer. The park is also home to a zoo, botanical garden, monuments, historic buildings, the Audubon Nature Center, event spaces, a carousel, a forest to hike through, an art museum, gardens, lakes, fields, the Lefferts Historic House (a historic home you can tour), some fantastic architecture, and the opportunity to be in greenery. The extensive array of options makes Prospect Park a fantastic getaway from city life and also the opportunity to partake in a variety of activities.

Lefferts Historic House

Side Note: On the outside rim of the park is Grand Army plaza, which has a fountain, as well as an impressive arch, and other monuments. The plaza also has open-air markets on Saturdays, making it a central spot for the community. Along the plaza and park as well is the Brooklyn Public Library.