About this Event
By the mid-1800s, residents of Brooklyn were tired of their primary recreation grounds being a cemetery — a true urban green space for the public was needed. Fortunately, the President of the Brooklyn Board of Park Commissioners couldn't have agreed more, urging for "a rural resort, where the people of all classes, escaping from the glare, and glitter, and turmoil of the city, might find relief for the mind.” It's time to hit the ground and uncover the definitive story of how Prospect Park came to be, and has prospered ever since.
Join New York Adventure Club as we explore Prospect Park and the incredible story behind its creation — designed by Central Park architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this 536 acre park in Brooklyn was the borough's first major urban green space, and one that remains as coveted as when it opened in 1867.
Led by licensed NYC tour guide Kyle Sallee, our tour surrounding Prospect Park's artistry, architecture, and influential figures throughout the past 150 years will include:
- The origin story behind Prospect Park and why a great park of Brooklyn was so desperately needed in the mid 19th-century
- How the park's design was transformed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux from a Central Park knock-off to what many consider to be their crowning achievement
- The role of the Brooklyn Parks Commission in creating a more enjoyable and welcoming park; and how architectural contemporaries, the New York Parks Department, and the Prospect Park Alliance picked up where they left off
- A walk along the watercourse that runs along the lower half of Prospect Park, highlighting some of Prospect Park's historic sites including the Boathouse, Nethermead Arches, and Concert Grove Pavilion
- The evolution of the park in the second half of the twentieth century, mainly led by the New York Parks Department and the Prospect Park Alliance
After the tour concludes, tour guide Kyle will be visiting neighborhood local bar and cafe Edie Jo’s for a post-tour hangout, which will have food and drink available for purchase!
Click here to see pictures from one of our last trips to Prospect Park.
See you there!
*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing around two miles of walking!
**This tour concludes on the opposite side of the park at the corner of Ocean Av and Parkside Av
Transportation:
By Subway: Take the F or G train to 15th Street - Prospect Park. Meeting location is one stop away. At the end of the tour, please budget 15-20 minutes to walk back to the starting location, or take the Parkside Av. Q train located just steps away from the ending location.
By Car: Street parking can usually be found in the immediate neighborhood of the starting and ending location. The nearest parking garage to the starting location can be found at 406 15th St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (SP+ Parking). The nearest garage to the ending location can be found at 125 Parkside Ave between Parade and St. Pauls Place (Icon Parking).
About Kyle
Kyle Sallee is a Brooklyn based actor and tour guide with a decade of experience in leading programming across several New York City parks. Kyle is the founder of Central Park Food Tours, and has been recently featured in the podcast series Bar None. Currently, Kyle is the host of Virtual Park Bites, a Facebook Live series devoted to by-request examinations of park life across the city, as well as the trivia host of New York Adventure Club’s Virtual Group Trivia Night.
Testimonials
"It was a very good introduction and overview of a large subject, with helpful background information and relevant history through the decades. Just the right amount of information to prompt future visits and exploration." -Liza
"It was very informative; I learned so much about Prospect Park. Kyle was an articulate and informative guide. He was very pleasant and I appreciate the fact that he spoke clearly and loudly. His obvious enjoyment in conducting the tour was infectious. It was a most enjoyable afternoon." -Lawrence
" Wasn’t just pointing out sites in the park but we learned about the history and theoretical aspects behind the park’s design" -Sophia
" Enjoying nature and learning about the history of Prospect Park!" -Scott
Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Prospect Park SW (Park Entrance Between the Pillars), Prospect Park SW/Bartel Pritchard Square, Brooklyn, United States
USD 36.81