I love this little playground around the way. Every time I walk by it when I'm walking my dog I…read morealways have an urge to swing on the swings, which are empty in the early mornings but full of kids by midday on the weekends. It's always clean and looks really inviting. If I was a little kid I know I'd be all about it. Still, sometimes when it's empty I try to sneak in a little time on the swing anyway. I'm an adult baby. The last time I was there on a Saturday morning, I tied my dog's leash to the fence and went for a little swing ride. The only other person there was a body builder, who kept looking at me and seemed surprised at my solitary swing time. I felt momentary shame, until I realized that he himself was swinging on the monkey bars. He would probably call what he was doing "pull-ups," but hey, playground equipment is playground equipment. And for what it's worth, I could tell my dog was judging us both.

It's spring, and as the number of weeks staying indoors gets into the double digits during NY on…read morePAUSE, I've been desperate for some outdoor respite. I planned to picnic in Prospect Park but fearing that everyone else probably had the same bright idea, I headed toward this quieter stretch of green grass just across the way from the Brooklyn Museum instead. I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I saw big expanses of green grass under big shady trees without the crowds of people I'm sure Prospect Park had. While in pre-covid times people watching was part of the joy of hanging out in a park, being around people now requires so much anxiety and so many calculations around risk tolerance that I was glad for the dearth of folks at Mount Prospect. Enjoying a nice meal on a blanket under the shade of a tree was a breeze and walking up the hill gave me a nice vantage point to view this part of Brooklyn, forever changed but in some ways still the same.

Nested between the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Central Library, Mount Prospect Park is…read morethe second highest point in Brooklyn after Battle Hill inside the Green-Wood Cemetery. It fact, "It was used by the Continental Army in 1776 as a lookout point, which at that time offered strategic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York harbor, a portion of New Jersey, Staten Island, and Long Island"[1]. Mount Prospect Park has something to offer for everyone: - If you have a dog, this is a dog-friendly park, with many dogs enjoying the large grassy area at the center. Keep in mind that the area is completely open. There are specific off-leash hours, and I found all dog owners who come to the park to be friendly and respectful. - If you like to run, there is a running route that goes all around the park, mainly shaded by wonderful tree, that covers 0.22 miles/0.36 km[2]. There are also some stairs that lead to the highest point in the park, that are also good for exercising. Another set of (steeper) stairs is near the second access point near the Brooklyn Public Library. - If you have young kids, there is a playground with two jungle gyms separated by a sprinklers area, plus an enclosed area with swings, and six concrete small tables with benches. There are a lot of mosquitoes, particularly tiger mosquitoes i.e. the ones that are active during the day, in the area near the benches around the fence. The main entrance by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has no stairs, and its gentle incline is perfect if you have a stroller or bike. - If you have older kids, I have seen soccer games and other team sports (baseball, freesbee, etc...) or training sessions take place in the lawn at the center of the park. Keep in mind that the area is not completely covered in grass, and it can get dusty. The park seems to be generally understaffed (hence 4 stars instead of 5). The trash cans are not emptied daily, and the hours at which sprinklers are on during the summer, or when restrooms are open, seem to be totally random. While I find the dog owners and runners very respectful, some of the people who have birthday parties or other celebrations here tend to leave a lot of trash behind. Which is a shame, as this park is generally quiet, much less busy than nearby Prospect Park, and generally a great place to just relax and unwind. ----------------------- [1] https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mount-prospect-park/history [2] https://www.plotaroute.com/route/723847

A nice spacious park along the edge of Bay Ridge. This is the playground side of the park where…read morethe children's slides and swings are located, and right across the street is the basketball court. This park isn't crowded and play areas are wider and bigger than other parks in the neighborhood. There is the occasional weirdo that sits alone silently near the park bench with their beer can in hand; so parents watch your kids closely. During the summer time the tree in the center of the park provides a good shaded area for a short break. Overall, a nice park in BayRidge Breoklyn.

Lovely playground with 2 separate areas under trees for shade. In the summer, the sprinklers form…read morethe raised blocks squirt water to help cool kids off. The front has swings for both babies and bigger kids. It has a larger slide area with rock climbing and bathrooms. The back area has a slide area for small children to enjoy but be aware that there can be mosquitoes there. Next to it is hand all courts and an open area where there are events or free play.

Perhaps it's because we spend a lot of time at a friend's place down the street, but this has…read morebecome one of my favorite playgrounds in Brooklyn. For starters, it's just a wonderful use of what was dead space underneath the subway overpass. It can be a little noisy, but shade on a hot summer day is pretty clutch. Perhaps it's because my kids are still little, but we get a whole lot of use out of the southern side of the park with the swings, jungle gyms, and splashpad. As it's fairly new (5-6 years old or so?), these things are still state of the art and a lot of fun for the kiddos. We've also had plenty of luck hosting birthday parties there, as it's not nearly as mobbed as Carroll Park a few blocks north. I also look forward to when we can take more advantage of the basketball courts, turf field, and maybe even the skate park on the north side of the space. Really, just an excellent playground to have in the area.

It's new. It's clean. It's shaded…read more Lots to love about this newly completed (finally) playground(s). Divided by Nelson St you get a combination of little kids to big kids to adult fun options. The South side has excellent playground equipment that is generally protected from a lot of the direct elements (think rainy day play). Cross over to the North side and you have some turf area for small soccer or similar. Short gated directly next to that there is a 3' mini ramp, rail and box features for the skate rat in you (or your kid). A small "exercise " area divides the skate zone from the half court basketball net. All of the North has a jogging/biking/walking track around the enclosed park. Considering it was a slog to complete and it's proximity to my home I'm loving St. Mary's!

Huge park!! This was an unexpected gem I came upon. The park has 2 basketball courts, 2 jungle…read moregyms, a turf field, a racketball court, and some outdoor exercise equipment. And the park is pretty well fenced on the side facing the busy roads, so I would think it would be relatively safe for young kids and pets! Overall really great park with lots of space especially in downtown brooklyn!

A city park encompassing an entire city block which is a rarity in Downtown Brooklyn. Large Astro…read moreturf multipurpose field for soccer, softball etc. 2 full basketball courts, 2 handball courts as well. Large play space for kids including plenty of swings. Calisthenics, stretching, and resistance weight are for adults. Plenty of large oak and maple trees for shade.

A nice little park that I have passed numerous times while riding my bicycle. Then one day I…read moredecided to go in and check it out. My first impression was this is a clean park.the grass was clean no trash on the ground Or in the grass . You have a number of benches to sit down and enjoy a book or converse, or just relax and sightsee. This park also has a memorial stone with names of military soldiers who sacrificed there lives.The park is also named after lt Frank McConnell. This is not a big park ,but it is pretty peaceful .And for some one like me who enjoys parks and the great out doors. This little park is just right, and it is in my favorite borough queens. Right on lefferts blvd. You also have several stores & restaurants surrounding the park . Which is cool if you want to grab a little something to eat after leaving the park or before you go to the park.

Assuming there's no litter, or at least not large quantities of said visual disturbance. Assuming…read morethe graffiti is limited, park benches don't home homeless nor give your rear a splinter, I'm hard pressed to give poor grades to our parks. The green space we all can sit within, have a snack and watch the world go round. With a panoramic view of Atlantic Ave, the people watching is boundless. Six sturdy benches per side running railroad car straight, as the weather isn't that of nature's growth, all shrubs were asleep for the long winter ahead. Monuments spoke of not only Lt. McConnell but of the branches of the armed forces. The sun had a particularly noticeable illuminating effect upon the granite memorial pillars giving a profound effect. Not a park that has sport, recreation options but a fine place for a good sit with your book or your thoughts.

4.5 stars. Not a perfect park but giving it high stars because of the many play structures…read moreavailable to climb on, ranging from crawling babies to older kids. Theres 6 different play structures in this 1 park, and 4 areas of swings. Park is big and can be accessed from both 18th and 19th ave. Theres a baseball field, basketball cpurt and handball court. A tiny section for water play. Some of the play structures are unique in that it resembles more of rock climbing. What I dont like is that the areas arent fenced in so the kids can run far and itll be hard to keep track of where they are if you have more than 1 runner. Theres bathrooms available as well. Occasionally I see many classes of students come here and it gets crowded but when theyre not there, its quite nice to let my 2 year old run free. I just came on a tuesday morning 10am and there were no students here

What a lovely park that boast four different themed play areas for kids. Walked by this park a few…read moretimes and didn't even realize how big this place is. Soon as you enter the main gate there are benches and grass area to sit. Walking pathways are kind of narrow and shared with kids riding their bikes and scooters. A small baseball field in the center of this park makes for great outdoor activities for anyone. The four playgrounds are the best kept secret of this park. There are lots of slides for kiddies to older children and all play areas are newly constructed, colorful, and sturdy. Kids will have fun running up and down all of the areas. It is a predominantly Othrodox neighborhood, everyone minded their own business and continued playing. Park is kept clean and very well maintained. One of the nicest parks in Brooklyn.