Prospect Park
Prospect Park is a vast and beautiful urban oasis with 585 acres of beautifully landscaped greenspace and water features
In the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, Prospect Park is a unique urban oasis featuring 585 landscaped acres designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, the architectural design team responsible for Manhattan's Central Park.
Olmstead and Vaux accentuated the unique beauty of Prospect Park's natural and geological characteristics with a man-made Watercourse featuring an intricate system of pools, streams, waterfalls and islands culminating in a 60 acre lake. Inspired by the pristine streams of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, the Watercourse winds through deep gorges and 146 acres of forest known as the Ravine District. To preserve the landscape design, the Prospect Park Alliance launched a $43 million dollar restoration project to preserve the Watercourse and the Ravine over the next 25 years.
With over eight million visitors annually, there is something for all members of the family. Popular activities in Prospect Park include bird watching, biking, hiking, pedal-boating and fishing. In the winter months, the rolling hillsides are perfect for sledding. Many sports and fitness facilities are available, including two major league size baseball fields and an indoor-outdoor tennis center. The Prospect Park Children's Corner is a unique destination for fun, exploration, and education with several playground facilities and a landmark Carousel. The Long Meadow Dog Beach will be a favourite with your favourite pooch and the Park has specified off-leash hours for lots of fun with Fido.
Prospect Park is home to many cultural attractions, including The Prospect Park Zoo, Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House. The Prospect Park Bandshell is the main venue for Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival offering live outdoor entertainment performances and concerts every summer. On Saturdays, Prospect Park hosts the one of the largest organic farmer's greenmarkets in New York City.
Nearby attractions include Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Brooklyn Bridge.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoProspect Park Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Thursday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Friday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Saturday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Sunday: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Address: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Phone: (718) 965-8951
Official Website: Prospect Park
Prospect Park Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
Prospect park is the Grand Central Park of Brooklyn, it has a little of everything, boating, ice skating rink in the winter, water park in the summer, a small pond to feed the ducks, a walking trail and a bike lane around the entire park. There’s also good parts and bad parts in the park, the immediate vicinity on the park is mostly filled with people who may consider that park home, the city could clean it up easily if it wanted to but they seemed to be fine with it since they dont contribute to any criminal activities. Otherwise its worth visiting on a daily basis with the kids.
Ali Algaheim - a week ago
Prospect Park is truly one of New York’s hidden gems. Unlike the hustle and intensity of Manhattan, the park offers a calm, spacious, and beautifully designed escape right in the heart of Brooklyn. The atmosphere is lively but never overwhelming — families, joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, and nature lovers all share the space comfortably.
The park’s landscape is stunning: wide open meadows, peaceful wooded trails, ponds filled with wildlife, and scenic bridges that make every corner feel unique. The Long Meadow is perfect for relaxing, Prospect Park Lake adds a serene vibe, and the Boathouse is one of the most picturesque spots in the city. Whether you want to walk, run, picnic, or simply disconnect from the noise, you’ll find the environment refreshing.
What makes Prospect Park special is how “local” it feels. It’s vibrant, diverse, and full of genuine Brooklyn energy — from weekend markets to cultural events and live music. It’s a place where you immediately feel part of the neighborhood.
Overall, Prospect Park is a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience a calmer, greener, warmer side of New York while still being surrounded by city life. An absolute favorite.
Youssef George - a month ago
Prospect Park is one of those rare places that feels almost enchanted—an escape so complete that you genuinely forget you’re standing in the heart of New York City. The moment you step beneath its canopy of towering trees or wander into the wide-open sweep of the Long Meadow, the noise, the rush, the density of the city simply fall away. What’s left is a serene, almost dreamlike landscape where time slows down and the mind can finally breathe.
Designed by the same genius duo behind Central Park, Prospect Park feels even more intimate, more organic, more like a true retreat carved into the urban grid. The winding paths, the sudden clearings, the hidden ponds and rustic bridges create the sense that you’re exploring a secret countryside. Every turn offers something soothing: sunlight flickering through leaves, the earthy smell of the woods, the gentle hum of families picnicking or musicians practicing beneath a tree.
The Ravine, often called Brooklyn’s only forest, is especially magical—lush, quiet, protected from the world outside. It’s astonishing to stand there, surrounded by dense greenery and the sound of water trickling through the gorge, and remember that millions of people are rushing around just beyond the treeline. For a moment, you’re not in a city at all. You’re somewhere peaceful, grounded, almost restorative.
Whether you're biking around the loop, sitting lakeside at sunset, or simply stretching out in the meadow to watch clouds drift by, Prospect Park offers a feeling that’s hard to find anywhere else in New York: genuine stillness. It’s a reminder that even in a city famous for its chaos, there are pockets of pure calm waiting to be discovered. Prospect Park doesn’t just give you nature—it gives you a break from reality, a place to exhale, a place to feel human again.
Moose - a month ago
Absolutely love prospect park! It’s so beautiful and large. It has many pleasant areas to sit and watch people and animals. It’s super peaceful and serene. Wonderful bike and hiking trails. A must for natives and tourists alike:)
Christine Elliott - 4 months ago
This park is very spacious, clean and perfect for walks or other family and friends activities or just looking to detach yourself from the busyness of city life. Its proximity to the train station and nearby cafes and restaurants make it attractive too. So if you’re visiting Brooklyn or looking for another alternative park other than Central Park, this is the place to be.
francesandfrancis - 3 months ago
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Directions
| Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| F or G | 15 Street - Prospect Park | 1 minute |
| 2 or 3 | Grand Army Plaza | 5 minutes |
| B, Q or S | Prospect Park | 2 minutes |
How to get to Prospect Park by Subway
For the west side of the park take the F or G train to 15th Street / Prospect Park Station and cross the road into the park. For the east side of the park take the B, Q or S train to Prospect Park Station, exit and go right (east) into the park. For the north end of the park take a 2 or 3 train to Grand Army Plaza and walk south along Flatbush Avenue and Grand Army Plaza into the park.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Photo Gallery
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Beautiful Foliage along Lullwater Trail in Prospect Park cc licensed photo by JGNY -
Photo Credit: Jauher Ali Nasir - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Barney A Bishop - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Jauher Ali Nasir - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Barney A Bishop - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Phil Roeder - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Reading Tom - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Tainanian - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Phil Roeder - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: ShanMcG213 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Phil Roeder - cc license via Flickr

