Prospect Park: Brooklyn’s Central Park
Loved Central Park? Head to Brooklyn to discover Prospect Park, a park designed by the same architects who created Central Park.
What You Need to Know About Prospect Park
- Central Park is by far the world’s most famous New York park. Its perfect rectangular shape makes it the primary green space of Manhattan. But New York has another Central Park, designed by the same architects. It’s called Prospect Park.
- Located in Brooklyn, Prospect Park covers 2.13 km² (0.82 sq mi), compared to Central Park’s 3.41 km² (1.32 sq mi). This makes it the second-largest park in Brooklyn, after Marine Park at 3.23 km² (1.25 sq mi), and one of the city’s largest parks overall.
- Beyond the numbers, Prospect Park has real character. The park opened in 1867, ten years after Central Park was created. Its architects, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, took their vision to its fullest here. You’ll quickly notice that Prospect Park feels wilder than Central Park. Fewer tourists visit, which adds to the sense of being surrounded by nature.
What to See in Prospect Park
- The park contains New York’s longest continuous green space: Long Meadow stretches for 1,600 m (5,249 ft) of unbroken lawn. New Yorkers flock here to exercise or spread out a picnic blanket.
- At the north entrance, you’ll find Grand Army Plaza, a striking square that immediately captures the beauty and grandeur of the park, with its triumphal arch built in 1892. Don’t miss the Botanic Garden and the beautiful SeaGlass Carousel, a restored carousel installed in 1912. If you’re traveling with children, the zoo is also worth a visit.
- Prospect Park sees far fewer tourists than Manhattan’s attractions. That would be a shame to miss. This park truly stands out. You’ll find plenty of reasons to linger and recharge away from Manhattan. I loved exploring it and actually preferred it to Central Park, though Central Park remains one of the city’s most popular sights.
Prospect Park in Photos
How to Get to Prospect Park
Take the subway lines 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza. You’ll arrive directly at one corner of the park. You can also get off at Eastern Parkway, near the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden.