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

Huge playground. Plenty of climbable options for your children. Lots of benches in the shade. Close…read moreproximity to the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Restrooms available (really dirty, though). Ice-cold water coming from the water fountain! Thumbs up!

Named after Elijah G. Stroud[1], a local NYPD Officer who was killed in 1972 after interrupting a…read morerobbery in progress, this playground, located on Classon Avenue between Park Place and Sterling Place, is probably the nicest-looking one in the Prospect Heights/Crown Heights neighborhoods. Reopening in 2019 after a two-year, $5 million reconstruction that was designed in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance[2], this playground has something for children of all ages: swings, two playground areas catering to little kids and older ones, two sets of sprinklers, four basketball courts, a fenced handball court, a small gym area, an open play area with synthetic turf, and a walking/running track. I like how this playground appeals to very different people: families with young children, kids playing basketball, skaters, fitness and training classes in the open play area[3], kids from local daycare centers, people working out, birthday and block parties, etc.. This playground is generally clean; perhaps cleaner than most playgrounds in Brooklyn I know. I also like how, unlike at other playgrounds in the area[4], the sprinklers at Stroud Playground were open all day every day throughout the summer. --------------------- [1] You can read more about Officer Stroud and the history of this playground here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/stroud-playground/history [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cykj164ow_Y [3] Someone put two large truck tires here this past summer. [4] Such as the playground at Mount Prospect Park: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mount-prospect-park-brooklyn

Nice neighborhood playground. Lots of benches with shady trees, a waterworks area, slides and…read moreswings for all ages and restrooms kept pretty clean and always open.

Interesting to learn more about the local parks in Brooklyn…read more Dean Playground is named after Silas Deane (1737-1789). Deane was a Yale college educated Revolutionary War statesman. In 1774, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress. Two years later in 1776, he was sent along with Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee to France to secure support for the Revolutionary War. Nice to see this neighborhood park filled with residents playing basketball and pickleball. A cute playground in Brooklyn.

This is perhaps my favorite playground within walking distance from us…read more Just a few blocks North of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza, Underhill playground has two main play areas (one for one for the little guys and one for older kids) that are separated by sprinklers, and a single entrance, which makes it easy to keep kids safely inside. To the right in the back are baby swings, and to the far left is a little grassy area under the trees. There are also two open cement areas in front of the restrooms, down a few steps, where children often play with balls or ride bikes and toys around. This playground has two distinctive features that make it stand out from other playgrounds: 1. The fountains, art sculptures, and mosaics that are the work of Julie Peppito[1]. They can seem whimsical or creepy depending on your artistic inclination: Gigantic fish with pudgy hands as tails and a duck on their head, with a human figure embedded in the duck; house-like metal sculptures with human features; large eye mosaics on the front wall of the bathroom. 2. The abandoned toys. Tons and tons of abandoned toys: Plastic bikes, excavators, toy houses, a spring horse, stuffed animals, cars, a scooter, push carts, etc... Most of these toys are broken, but the kids love them, and thanks to them your kid(s) will never get bored at this playground. This playground is well maintained, restrooms are open during normal hours, and the sprinklers have been on at all times during the summer months. Also, strategically located just a few blocks South is Gold Star Beer Counter[2], which is a great place for all beer lovers; after spending a few hours running after your kid(s) at this playground, you know you deserve a cold one. ------------------- [1] http://juliepeppito.com/new-page [2] http://goldstarbeercounter.com/

Prospect Park is a beautiful park. It gets overshadowed by Central Park, but I think we like it…read morethat way. We're okay with gatekeeping it even though it's not really even hidden. It's gorgeous, it's spacious - no tourists, no horse rides.

Off leash hours are dog heaven at this massive park. Our pug has a great time doing zoomies around…read morethe big grassy fields. The dog beach area is awesome in summer. There's so many things to see and explore in this park. Ponds, bridges, sports fields, waterfalls, a zoo, statues, an ice rink, fountains, farmers markets and food stalls. Easy to catch the F to 15th/Prospect Park.

It was a nice day out, and there were so many children outside playing you would think cell phones…read moredidn't exist and we were back in the 90's, I appreciated seeing so many people make use of the park. Good spot for children, dogs or people who want to walk along trails.

On initial sight, it LOOKS like a park fulled with families of all sorts of ethnicities. After a…read morecloser look and logical thinking, I was looking at a park filled with Au pairs & nannys. None the less, it is a beautiful park covered in astroturf.

You couldn't ask for a better scooter spot than this spacious playground near the entrance to…read moreProspect Park. A preschooler on a scooter in Brooklyn requires an adult with nerves of steel. Yet you want the little one to be able to experience the joys of riding. Harmony Park has the normal playground equipment and sand areas. But it also has a wide concrete area that can accommodate many happy children flying like the wind without crowding or head on collisions. A child on a scooter can navigate around the playground equipment without losing speed or endangering children without wheels. The "ride around" space allows for a much more fun time than just scooting back and forth. This is made obvious by the squeals of delight. Never does a gregarious child fail to find some new scooting friends to share the afternoon. For adults, there are numerous benches strategically placed so one can watch their child, regardless of the activity chosen. And joy of joy, the rest rooms are on site. Be aware of the fact that they are locked for the evening relatively early. So don't postpone. Convenience, location, spaciousness and friendly companionship. They're all here for a child's delight.

Harmony Playground would be great if only there were no people from Park Slope hanging out in it…read more This is the most pretentious playground in Brooklyn. It's fine for killing time with the kids when I'm visiting friends and family who decided to move here for why I don't possibly know. But I might have to shoot myself if hear another parent yelling out to a kid named Phoenix, Sage, Socrates, Atticus, Cortland, Kale or Jagger. I mean, stop. JUST STOP. 2 stars.

Cool little playground and park near downtown Brooklyn. It seems like a pretty safe place. Boerum…read morePark is located in the neighborhood of Boerum Hill. Looks like a basic place for kids. There's ladders, slides, and swings. An interesting history about it. It's a small playground named in honor of Simon Boerum, whose family had a farm on this site. This guy also was a member of the Continental Congress for the State of New York. Formerly it used to include a parking lot for the school next to it. In 2001 money was raised to renovate the park, which added a basketball court, tennis court, and playground. Also there's a spray shower shaped like a beehive. There's a couple bee structures on each side of this. Good way to keep children entertained. It's not a big park but it's got enough inside it. The park is in a pretty safe area for visitors.

I'm a big fan of Boerum Park, and as my daughter's #1 source of park-going and #2 favorite parent,…read moreI feel like I know a thing or two about parks in the area. It's very well-rounded, with a tree lined walkway that bisects the playground area from a nice blacktop (excellent for scooting/biking/other rolling around), jungle gyms that cater to different ages, and lots of benches and tables to sit, party, or do whatever. Unlike the nearby Carroll Park, Boerum Park is also not completely hectic and packed every time it's nice out. It's still NYC, don't get me wrong, but the line for the swings (baby seats only) is often non-existent, and always manageable. Sure, there was that one time that there was human feces sitting in the corner, but to the credit of the NYC Parks Department, that shit was cleaned up within hours. This park also holds a special place in my heart as it was here, on a sunny Saturday, that the whole neighborhood just started cheering because we found out that a certain orange person lost their job. And it was glorious.

The carousel is cute, but they do have several strict rules I'm not crazy about. Adults must pay…read more($3 per ride) even when standing beside their toddlers who are too young to go on their own; yet, they're not allowed to sit on the horses, because the carousel is "too old to support their weight".

WHO: party of 2 WHY: bucket list…read moreWHAT: (Deets) adults have to ride the chariots or non-moving horses...boooooooooo. So, I chose a dragon chariot (1976 representing). It spins at a faster rate than most, which was unnerving at first. The ride was accompanied by classic carnival music from a Wurlitzer organ. Fun facts... according to sources st ProspectPark.org, this carousel was originally opened in Coney Island in 1912, and hand carved by Charles Carmel, a man who drew inspiration from the horses kept at Prospect Park during that time period. It was relocated to the Park 40 years later. WHEN: 4/2/17 WHERE: dragon chariot HOW: bike/ public transportation bus B41 trains Q, B BATHROOM: n/a WIFI: beats me DRESS CODE: as you like SERVICE: prompt and cordial BOTTOM LINE: It was fun TIP: take public transportation or your bike, skateboard, etc. It's right next to the prospect park zoo.

Fort Greene Park is a big green hilly square, covered in old trees and lush grass. It has a little…read morebit of something for everyone: HISTORY - The park was built over forts from the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The crown of the park is the Prison Ship Martyr's Monument, that marks the lives of 11,000 people held captive by the British in ships in Wallabout Bay. PLAYGROUNDS - two, one on the south east corner for 5 and under and one on the west side that is good for all ages. The south east playground has a water sprinkler, four swings, and play equipment. The west side playground has a big kid playground with two ten foot high lookout towers, a water sprinkler shaped like a compass, six bucket swings, and a toddler sized playground. The west side playground also has bathrooms, which are well... used frequently. RANGER STATION - The station has restrooms, water fountains outside, and an assortment of critters (corn snake, stick bugs, gold fish). You can pick up a map to follow the "Tree Trail," bird watching brochure, or nature scavenger hunt. A junior ranger program also supports kids and teens in the neighborhood. The station is next to a mini fort that invites kids to climb, play look out, and creates a little space to gather. FARMER'S AND MAKER'S MARKET - Saturday Mornings! A great selection of veggies, fruit, flowers, honey, cider, baked goods, clothing/compost drops. Vendors leave when things sell out. Makers markets seem to rotate, but there's usually coffee, jewelry, baskets, clothing, soap, perfume, and something for dogs. VOLUNTEERING - Fort Greene Park Conservancy organizes gardening and community events that always need a hand. DOG POLICY - while there is no official dog park, there is a very robust dog community that shows up at off leash hours (before 9am and after 9pm). Park rangers will patrol at 9am sharp to enforce leashes on. Lawns open for off leash hours will rotate seasonally to help the grass grow. Please be a responsible pet owner, it can get rowdy. SPORTS - a basketball court and calisthenics equipment (Myrtle side), tennis court (middle), abundant hills for sledding in the winter. JOGGING - the outer perimeter of the park has a jogging trail, people tend to go counterclockwise. Its a mile and there are hills. Runners tend to be respectful. Path is dirt and gravel. EVENTS - summer movie nights! hop along andrew playing music for the kids! musical events! Drum line practice! Buskers! Dog costume contest for Halloween! Dance workshops with Cumbe! Holiday Tree lighting! NATURE - lots of huge old trees, well kept gardens and pollinator flower beds. Look out for the hawks that nest here in spring, woodpeckers, and song birds. BBQ and PICNIC TABLES: BBQ is Myrtle side of the park. Additional picnic table on the east side, Washington and Willoughby, north of the baby playground. First come first served, there is no reservation system.

I've been to this park a handful of times, but this past weekend--was my longest experience here…read more Attended the Spike Lee event here. It was wonderful, filled with people but everyone came with good spirits. The park is relatively large and eggs lots of portable bathrooms. The center of hr park was packed with people, so we set up shop moreso on the outside looking in. The park seemed to have a little of everything you need.