Prospect Park is typically a bustling hub during the warm months. But since the pandemic began, the park has become a magnetic force, drawing Brooklynites from every crevice of the borough to its green lawns. It breathes life into the city as the center of current metropolitan activity. Concerts of live music take place at GAP, in the middle of long meadow, by the lake house, and in the woods. Games of soccer, volleyball, and spike ball scatter the field, while picnic blankets and celebrations occupy nearly every other space. A nightmare for some and a haven for others. Fortunately, I’ve been able to carve out various low-trafficked locales to run or lie in grass unbothered by anyone. My most recent haunt is suspended between two trees in a hammock.

If in more of a kinetic mood, one of my favorite ways to explore the park is running its many trails and connecting to nature. When I commuted to Manhattan, I always thought it remarkable that at 7am I could be amongst trees and wildflowers and by 9am I’d be surrounded by some of the tallest skyscrapers set in concrete. Had it not been for Prospect Park and its frequent dose of greenery, I doubt I’d still live in Brooklyn. It’s gotten me through a bit of turmoil, which has often been during the spring despite its boasting of rebirth and new beginnings. The beauty of the season has served me well: fresh, lime green leaves revitalized me while pink magnolias and cherry blossoms that sparked cotton candy dreams comforted me. These plants instilled feelings of hope and still do.

Hopefully, you all have been able to venture out to the park for some loops, trail runs, walks, or picnics to revel in the park’s new renovations and blooms. If not, I’ve documented it all here for you:

The Endale Arch was first constructed in 1860 and for the last few years, it has undergone reconstruction of its interior wood paneling, retaining walls, and surrounding area. It reopened a few months ago and now possesses an interior that will leave you lingering.

Prospect Park is not about subtleties when it comes to Springtime. Trees blooming, flowers sprouting up in the most unlikely places, little baby leaves unfurling in the wind all mark the beginning of warmer days. If you’re plagued by seasonal allergies like me, I’d strongly suggest popping a Claritin before heading into the park.

A turtle soaks up the sun while a couple self-absorbed ducks tend to themselves.

The park comes alive with wildlife once the weather warms up. Early morning runners can attest to the park’s large raccoons that lurk on the main loop during quieter hours. Meanwhile, the daytime often brings piles of turtles sunbathing on rocks, squirrels angling for the best nuts, ducks floating in the water like queens, and birds of every kind all around. A few robins and a cardinal flitted around me with such speed that all my portrait attempts were blurry.

For Earth Day 2020, PPTC dedicated a tree to the park for their 50th anniversary and a planting ceremony took place in November 2020. We checked up on the tree this spring and here it is, still strongly standing- in its vastly awkward teen stage. As proud PPTC parents, all we could do was stare at it in awe and love.

Among the many projects the park has embarked on this past year is the new park entrance on Flatbush Ave. This entrance was built through the Parks Without Borders initiative to provide greater access to the park. The landscape and granite walls are something to behold while the plants and trees provide a soothing environment and were thoughtfully selected to benefit the park’s ecosystem. Another focal point, although not pictured, are boulders precariously placed as steps up to a dirt trail- good for running or exploring.

Along Harry’s Wall sits a family of benches overlooking the East side of the loop. Two of the benches have been dedicated to prominent PPTC members- Al Goldstein and Michael Koplin. These two can keep each other company while cheering on PPTC members in races or on daily runs and workouts.

Originally constructed in 1874, the Concert Grove Pavilion has been restored a few times- once after a fire in 1974 and most recently in 2019/2020. It recently reopened this spring after its latest renovation. This restoration aimed to maintain the pavilion’s structural integrity and highlight its bold colors and details. Centerpieces of this ornate beauty are the colorful stained glass in the center of its dome and its painted pillars. One can only hope the Concert Grove Pavilion will be the location for many future picnics and concerts.

The park never ceases to provide solace and surprise. Hidden around corners and tucked away in the mystical woods, the park will unveil some of its secrets. I invite you to go out and explore whenever the mood strikes ya!

PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.

Text by: Rachael DePalma (she/her)
Photos: Will Ngo (he/him) and Rachael DePalma
Edited by: Linda S. Chan (she/her)
Produced by: Rachael DePalma

The Center of Brooklyn's Universe: Spring in Prospect Park