Tag: Community Engagement

Mayor Announces Car-Free Prospect Park

January 2, 2018

Today, Prospect Park’s entire loop drive—east and west—became permanently off limits to public vehicular traffic. The change follows the Park’s first car-free summer in 2017. The West Drive of the Park had been off limits to vehicular traffic since June 2015, while the East Drive was open to weekday morning rush traffic until the end of 2017.

“Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s backyard. I married Chirlane here. This is where my kids played little league. And I have always wanted it to be the safe, quiet refuge for Brooklyn’s families that it was intended to be.  Restoring Prospect Park as a car-free oasis will improve the lives of the millions who use this park today and of generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a recent statement.

During the car-free summer—from July 17 through  September 11, 2017—DOT estimated that recreational Park users outnumbered cars during morning rush by 1,000 users to 300 cars. After Labor Day Weekend, New York City received petitions with more than 1,100 signatures calling for the return of full-time, car-free hours for the entire Park. 

While the analysis of the car-free trial is still being finalized, its preliminary results clearly indicate no alternative driving route experienced more than a minimal delay, with most experiencing no change in travel times whatsoever. Based on that data, officials are now confident a fully car-free park can be implemented without adverse impact. These results are consistent with those seen after the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, when the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute, while other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve. After the January car-free hours take effect, DOT expects to closely monitor traffic around the park for changes in traffic patterns, and expects to adjust traffic-signal timing and make other changes as needed.

“Prospect Park Alliance applauds Mayor de Blasio, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver for working to ensure a car-free Prospect Park,” said Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “As Brooklyn’s Backyard, it is important to do all we can to ensure the Park is a safe and tranquil destination for the millions of visitors who depend upon it for recreation and relaxation.”

At a press conference announcing the news, Mayor de Blasio was introduced by Danayri Sanchez, a student at BASE High School on nearby Washington Avenue, who works with Prospect Park Alliance as a Park Youth Representative, leading tours and workshops, and guiding interpretive play at Lefferts Historic House: “Working at Lefferts Historic House with families from all over the city, I have learned just how important it is to the community to have a safe place to run, play or walk your dog, free from speeding cars, honking horns and nasty exhaust.”

Learn more about the Park Drive, and the rules of the road.

c. Brittany Buongiorno

Doctor’s Orders: A Walk in the Park

January 1, 2018

Should doctors be handing out prescriptions for a walk in the Park? Increasingly, studies suggest that a dose of nature does a body good. Bestselling author Florence Williams and New York Times health columnist Jane E. Brody report on the science behind what many of us know intuitively: that enjoying the outdoors makes us happier and healthier.

Luckily for those of us who live in Brooklyn, access to nature has been central to the development of our borough over a century. Chartered in 1834,  Brooklyn became the nation’s third largest city within thirty years. The resulting crowds and unsanitary conditions prompted the first American attempts at urban planning, with public green space seen as a health necessity more than an aesthetic one. James T. Stranahan, a business and civic leader, spearheaded the creation of Prospect Park as head of the Brooklyn Parks Commissioners, overseeing the Park’s creation from inception to completion with designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. In the early 1860s, Stranahan argued that a park in Brooklyn “would become a favorite resort for all classes of our community, enabling thousands to enjoy pure air, with healthful exercise, at all seasons of the year…”

Today, Prospect Park’s lush 585 acres include 250 acres of woodlands—Brooklyn’s last remaining forest—and also the borough’s only lake, which are sustained by Prospect Park Alliance’s dedicated crews of horticulturalists, arborists and forest ecologists. Anyone who has explored one of the Park’s nature trails, or enjoyed a stroll along the watercourse, can attest to its restorative powers, but what is the science behind this?

For her new book Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and more Creative, Florence Williams traveled across the globe to report on cutting-edge studies that provide concrete links between exposure to nature and health. In one study, an Essex-based environmental economist launched an app that mapped participants’ happiness against their location and found that we are “significantly and substantially happier outdoors…” Further east in Japan, a team of researchers gathering statistical evidence to back up the Biophilia theory, which states that humans experience lower stress levels in nature because we evolved in the natural world. And in Utah, neuroscientists are quantifying how exposure to nature can increase cognitive sharpness and even combat attention disorders.

During her 42 years as the Personal Health Columnist at The New York Times, Jane E. Brody has regularly reported on how a lack of physical activity can cause a host of health issues including childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and vitamin D deficiency. She has linked these issues to a decline in time spent outdoors, warning against the dangers of “Outdoor Deprivation Disorder.” But, according to Brody, the benefits of outdoor activity are becoming more widely acknowledged throughout the medical community, “a growing number of like-minded doctors have begun writing specific prescriptions for outdoor activity.”

The conclusion seems simple–if modern scientific data tells us that getting outside is good for our health, then we should make a point to venture outdoors on a regular basis. In Nature Fix, Williams recommends getting “quick bursts” of the natural world, and where better to do this than in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Join Prospect Park Alliance and its community partners for a variety of free and low-cost recreation and nature education activities year round. The Park boasts a 3.35-mile path for runners and bikers, the Long Meadow Ball Fields, the Parade Ground, the state-of-the-art LeFrak Center at Lakeside and a year-round Tennis Center. The Alliance also offers more than 800 public programs each year throughout the Park, which engage nearly 75,000 visitors. With so much exciting activity and stunning landscape, it is no wonder that the Park attracts more than 10 million visits each year.

 

Alliance and NYC Parks Break Ground on Stroud Playground

September 14, 2017

The Stroud Playground groundbreaking ceremony. Pictured left to right: State Assembly Member Walter Mosley, Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Marty Maher, City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Principle of PS316 Olga Maluf and Principal of MS353 Tricia Delauney.

On September 8, a groundbreaking ceremony in Crown Heights kicked off the $5 million redesign of Stroud Playground, which was undertaken pro-bono by Prospect Park Alliance as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative. The new design fits many amenities into a compact, one-acre space for the benefit of the community and the two schools it serves.

“The Alliance brought decades of expertise in designing award-winning playgrounds in Prospect Park to this project, and we were pleased to be able to contribute to the Community Parks Initiative,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. “We are thrilled to have worked on this new design for Stroud Playground that will strengthen and revitalize this cherished community space.”

The Community Parks Initiative is a citywide plan orchestrated by NYC Parks to renovate parks in communities with the greatest need through capital funding, programming and strategic partnerships. The project also received funding from Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

“It was a truly special experience working with the Prospect Park Alliance, Council Member Cumbo, and of course, the many passionate community members who came to our public input meeting to be a part of the design process,” Commissioner Silver said in a statement. “As a result, Stroud Playground will be transformed into a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Through a community engagement process, Crown Heights residents weighed in on what they hoped to see in the redesigned park. The innovative design by Prospect Park Alliance includes new play equipment for children of all ages and abilities, and an interactive spray shower. The basketball and handball courts are being expanded and a new synthetic turf area will accommodate open play. There will also be a new track and adult fitness equipment.

The landscape will be enhanced with a number of additional trees to help provide shade for the new seating area and benches, and beautify the space. A garden will serve as a quiet area for relaxation and serve as an outdoor classroom for PS 316 and MS 383 students. Security lighting and lower fencing will make the space safer and more inviting.

Stroud marks the Alliance’s first major design project outside Prospect Park. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. The Alliance is currently working on the redesign of Epiphany Playground in Williamsburg, also as part of the Community Parks Initiative.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s architecture and design team.

Mayor de Blasio Announces Prospect Park Will go Entirely Car-Free for the First Time this Summer

July 10, 2017

East Drive from Park Circle to Grand Army Plaza, now open to vehicles during weekday morning rush hours, will be car-free for two months from Monday, July 17 through the weekend after Labor Day

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Prospect Park in Brooklyn would go entirely car-free for the first time this summer.  Currently open to northbound traffic during the morning rush-hour, Prospect Park will be car-free 24/7 from Monday, July 17 until Monday, September 11th, the weekend after Labor Day.  Starting today, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with NYC Parks, will publicize Prospect Park East Drive’s new hours to affected drivers. 

“From getting married there to being a little-league parent inside Prospect Park, I can attest that it is a cool, even magical refuge this time of year,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “As we already saw when we made the Prospect Park West Drive car-free two years ago, a safer and quieter park improves the safety and enjoyment for thousands of park users – and has a negligible effect on traffic outside the park.   We are thrilled to bring even more of Prospect Park to even more of Brooklyn for the next couple months.”

“We are delighted to announce that Prospect Park for the rest of the summer will be completely car-free for the first time,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “Cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, young and old, can rejoice during these next couple warmer months in a safer and quieter park.”   

“New Yorkers look to their parks for green space and fresh air, especially in the heat of the summer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.  “Completely removing car traffic from Prospect Park turns one of our most historic sites back over to the kids, joggers, ball players, picnickers, and amblers who love it.  This summer, all visitors to Prospect Park will enjoy cleaner air, improved safety – and peace and quiet.”

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced that the West Drive of Prospect Park would be permanently car-free. Since that time, DOT has received a number of requests from the community and local officials to expand car-free hours to all of Prospect Park, which during the summer sees increased recreational use, including by several children’s day camps.  DOT is coordinating its efforts this summer with NYC Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance, and will be publicizing the change to drivers over the next week, using social media as well as VMS boards posted at the Park Circle entrance of the park. 

The East Drive of Prospect Park is currently open to northbound traffic between Park Circle and Grand Army Plaza from 7-9 a.m. on weekdays (except holidays).  According to DOT data, vehicle volumes on the East Drive are consistently lower during summer months: during a peak morning hour in the summer, fewer than 300 vehicles use the East Drive (a decline from over 400 hourly vehicles on a fall morning) while during a peak morning hour, the drive is used by nearly 1,000 pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.

The summertime car-free hours are also anticipated to have a negligible effect on travel times on alternative routes on streets around the park.  After the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, DOT studies showed that the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute after the West Drive went car-free, where other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve.  During the period of this summer’s East Drive closure, DOT will similarly collect data and conduct ongoing observations to determine the effect on alternate northbound routes during the morning rush period. 

“This summer, both sides of Prospect Park will enjoy the benefits of being car-free, a positive enhancement to my continuing efforts toward advancing park equity,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.  “Initiating this pilot has been a goal of my administration, community advocates, and local residents for a number of years. Parks are for people, and people from all across Brooklyn and beyond will enjoy a safer and more serene Prospect Park as a result of this initiative.”

“For countless New Yorkers, our city’s green spaces are a refuge. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about looking over their shoulder for on-coming traffic if they are out on a bike ride, going for a run, or taking a walk with their kids in a city park. Building on the success we’ve seen since the 2015 closure of Prospect Park’s West Drive, I’m excited we are taking another big step towards making Prospect Park car-free for good, by closing it off to cars through the end of the summer,” said Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Committee on Parks. 

“Prospect Park Alliance is excited to partner with NYCDOT and NYC Parks to pilot this car-free program this summer,” said Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that cares for the Park in partnership with the City. “A key part of our mission is engaging the community and enhancing the park experience, and we look forward to seeing how this works for all park users.”

Prospect Park 150: Catch A Summer Movie Under the Stars

July 6, 2017

In celebration of Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Prospect Park Alliance present A Summer Movie Under the Stars in partnership with Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Cinema. 

These free outdoor film screenings on Prospect Park’s Long Meadow North will feature live musical entertainment followed by family-friendly films carefully selected by Nitehawk’s cinema department, to highlight park themes such as the famed Prospect Park Zoo, summer camps, Little League Baseball and the exquisite flora and fauna.The full line-up is as follows:

  • Wednesday, July 19 – The NeverEnding Story
    Live entertainment by DJ Jane Elizabeth spinning a1980s music set
  • Wednesday, July 26 – The Sandlot
    Live entertainment by Doo Wop band
  • Wednesday, August 2 – Moonrise Kingdom
    Live entertainment by Morricone Youth
  • Wednesday, August 9 – Zootopia
    Live entertainment by Brooklyn United Marching Band

RSVP today for one or more of these screenings!

“What better way to celebrate 150 years of memories in Brooklyn’s backyard than making a few more under the stars with family and friends? Our exciting run of summer movies, paired with an equally exciting lineup of live entertainment, is a can’t-miss ticket for fun — and best of all, that ticket is free! I’m looking forward to joining my friends from the Alliance and Nitehawk Cinema in welcoming Brooklynites and visitors to enjoy these screenings,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.

“Our 150th celebration of Prospect Park is all about community, and what better way to gather with friends and neighbors than a free summer movie under the stars,” said Sue Donoghue, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “A big thanks to the Borough President, who has been a steadfast supporter of the Park, and also to Nitehawk Cinema for creating such a wonderful line up.”

“We’ve enjoyed offering free outdoor movies to the Brooklyn public nearly every year since our inception and it’s our pleasure to help celebrate Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary with family-friendly film programming spotlighting the park themes,” said Nitehawk Cinema founder Matthew Viragh. “The movies we’ve chosen are a mix of older classics we love and want to introduce to a younger generation, and newer films that are sure to please a wide range of ages. This will also give residents a taste of what’s to come at our next location Nitehawk Prospect Park.”

All live entertainment will start at 7 p.m. and films begin shortly after sundown at Long Meadow North, located nearest to the Grand Army Plaza entrance at Eastern Parkway. The closest subway station is the Eastern Parkway Brooklyn Museum stop on the 2, 3, and 4 lines. There are no rain dates in the event of inclement weather.  

For more information, maps and directions, visit: www.prospectpark.org/summermovie

A Summer Movie Under the Stars is made possible with additional support from HBO and Investors Bank.

 

Martin Seck

Community Weighs In on Future of Rose Garden

June 13, 2017

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Prospect Park Alliance gathered Brooklynites of all ages in the Prospect Park Boathouse to reimagine the Park’s Rose Garden. Suggestions, written on colorful cards and placed in a 3D model of the space, ranged from the practical—bathrooms and event spaces—to the fanciful—outdoor kitchens and trampolines!

Interested in sharing your vision for the Rose Garden? Take our survey!

This community visioning session was an opportunity for Park lovers to share their ideas for the Rose Garden, one of the Park’s hidden gems. Prospect Park Alliance is working with Hester Street Collaborative, a non-profit organization focused on improving the physical environment in underserved NYC neighborhoods to engage the community in the future vision for the Rose Garden—the first step in the Alliance’s plans to restore this landscape in the Park’s northeast corner.

The 2.5-acre landscape is tucked away in the northeast corner of Prospect Park in a heavily wooded area that is surrounded by steep hillsides. The area was originally designed by Park creators Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a Children’s Playground, complete with play equipment and a horse-driven carousel. In 1885, as part of the City Beautiful Movement, the landscape was transformed into a rose garden, featuring beautiful flowering trees and plants, and three pools with goldfish and lilypads. Over the years, the area fell into disuse. A 1960s attempt to restore the pools was unsuccessful, and the area has gone largely unnoticed and underused—until now.

“Since its founding, Prospect Park Alliance has been focused on renewing the Park for the enjoyment of all of Brooklyn,” said Sue Donoghue, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “Through this innovative community engagement process, we are looking to involve all of the diverse communities that consider the Park ‘Brooklyn’s Backyard’ in the future vision of this corner of the Park, one of the few remaining landscapes untouched by restoration.”

During the June 10 design workshop, visitors of all ages were asked to give their opinion of what should occupy the Rose Garden. Interactive models of the 2.5-acre space filled up quickly with idea-covered stickers, and over 40 attendees participated in a visioning activity to discuss the potential opportunities with members of their community. At the end of the event, Turnstile Tours, which operates walking tours throughout the Park, brought participants to the Rose Garden to learn about the history of the space, and see it firsthand. Dozens of suggestions were collected as a result of the event, and popular suggestions included an outdoor classroom, a flower garden and a cafe.

The project is possible thanks to the generous support of the Altman Foundation. “The Altman Foundation—which celebrated its centennial in 2013—has an historic interest in ensuring that individuals and families living in the city have access to resources that help them thrive, and we believe that well-maintained parks and open spaces are critical to the well-being of each of us and New York as a whole,” said Deborah T. Velazquez, Associate Director at the Altman Foundation.  “Projects like these that allow local stakeholders to be engaged in planning that shapes how capital is deployed lead to strong results, and help long-standing institutions remain vibrant and dynamic.”

The Alliance is looking to gather input from a wide variety of communities that border the Park and use the Park regularly. Over the course of the summer and fall, the Alliance and Hester Street Collaborative will be reaching out to the community in a variety of settings to help determine the future design of this space. In the month of July, a community art project—The Connective Project—will bring an immersive art installation to the area. During that time, July 7-17, the public will be able to give input on the future of the Rose Garden. 

Want to make your voice heard? Learn how you can get involved in this Rose Garden planning process.

Martin Seck

Spring Fundraising Success

June 2, 2017

In May of 2017, Prospect Park Alliance undertook an ambitious fundraising goal, and challenged the community to raise $50,000 for Prospect Park in order to unlock a matching gift. This matching challenge was made possible by longtime Prospect Park Alliance supporters Lorraine and Gordon DiPaolo, hoping to galvanize the community to support the Park.

Funds raised by Prospect Park Alliance go towards essential Park services, such as the collection of over 7 million pounds of litter each year, the care and maintenance of Park trees and 250 acres of woodlands, and the free public programs that are provided to 450,000 youth and adults each year.

As you enjoy the Park this summer, thank yourself and all the generous members of this community for rising to the challenge and doing your part to keep this special place green and vibrant. Our spring fundraising challenge was a great success, and we exceeded our goal! Because you helped us raise more than $57,000, longtime Prospect Park Alliance supporters Lorraine and Gordon DiPaolo have made a gift of $50,000 to support the Alliance.

As we continue our celebrations of the Park’s milestone 150th year, we’re better prepared than ever to honor our historic past and celebrate our bright future. 

Learn more about how you can get involved and give back to your favorite Park.

Reimagining the Rose Garden

June 1, 2017

In timing with Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary, Prospect Park Alliance—the non-profit organization that sustains the Park—announced the launch of its restoration plans for one of the Park’s hidden gems, a former Rose Garden in the Park’s northeast corner. The first phase of the process is to engage the public in the future vision for this landscape, including a June 1 open call for an immersive art installation, The Connective Project, conceived by AREA4 and Reddymade Architecture + Design, which invites the public to submit photos, artwork, prose or verse inspired by their love of the Park; and a June 10 community design workshop led by Hester Street Collaborative.

Submit your photos, artwork, prose or verse starting June 1 for the community art installation. 

“Since its founding, Prospect Park Alliance has been focused on renewing the Park for the enjoyment of all of Brooklyn,” said Sue Donoghue, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “Through these innovative community engagement initiatives, we are looking to involve all of the diverse communities that consider the Park ‘Brooklyn’s Backyard’ in the future vision of this corner of the Park, one of the few remaining landscapes untouched by restoration.”

Rose Garden Restoration

Prospect Park Alliance is working with Hester Street Collaborative, a non-profit organization focused on improving the physical environment in underserved NYC neighborhoods (and currently working on the City’s cultural plan), to engage the community in the future vision for the Rose Garden—the first step in the Alliance’s plans to restore this landscape in the Park’s northeast corner. The Alliance is looking to gather input from a wide variety of communities that border the Park and use the Park regularly. Over the course of the summer and fall, the Alliance and Hester Street Collaborative will be reaching out to the community in a variety of settings to help determine the future design of this space. To kick off the community engagement process, Prospect Park Alliance and Hester Street Collaborative are hosting a Community Design Workshop on June 10. Learn more and RSVP. 

The Connective Project

The Connective Project is an immersive art installation created from thousands of pinwheels to create an evolving, undulating wave of color and beauty that blankets the two-and-half acre Rose Garden from July 7-17, 2017. On June 1, the Alliance will launch an open call for submissions from the public to share artwork, photos, verse or prose that expresses their love of Prospect Park. All submissions will be featured on an online gallery, while select pieces will be printed and transformed into one of 7,000 pinwheels that will be showcased in the Park and constructed of weather-resistant biodegradable paper made from stone dust. Learn more and submit your pieces. 

The designer Suchi Reddy of Reddymade Architecture + Design designed an installation that would engage the public in a dialogue about the importance of public space, but also generate wonder and play. Full of color and whimsy, The Connective Project is a nod to the creative spirit that pervades Brooklyn and Reddy’s practice. The engagement with the community began with an open call to emerging artists, curated by the Brooklyn Council of the Arts, the Brooklyn Museum, BRIC Arts & Media, PIONEER WORKS, MoCADA, and Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

The Connective Project is funded in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with additional support from NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Tesla, Inc.

About the Rose Garden

Originally the “Children’s Playground,” the Rose Garden, a 2.5-acre landscape in the northeast corner of the Park, featured parallel bars, swings, and seesaws with a croquet lawn and maze. It also was home to the Park’s first, horse-powered carousel. During the City Beautiful Movement in the late 1800s, the prestigious firm of McKim, Mead and White transformed the landscape into a Rose Garden with three lily ponds, which was a popular attraction before the creation of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Over time, like most of Prospect Park prior to the founding of Prospect Park Alliance, this area became neglected, and the roses, long gone.

Today, Prospect Park Alliance maintains the landscape with the help of its landscape crews and volunteers. It is also the focus of the non-profit’s next major restoration efforts in the 26 acres that comprise the Park’s northeast corner. This spring, the Alliance is continuing work on restoring woodlands in the Vale of Cashmere, a lush landscape adjacent to the Rose Garden. Through a grant from the National Parks Service, administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Alliance is using goats as an environmentally friendly way to remove invasive weeds prior to planting new trees. The Alliance will also conduct historic restoration work on an existing pool.

In addition, through funding from Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Alliance is in the design phase of restoring the Flatbush Avenue perimeter from Grand Army Plaza to Ocean Avenue, with broadened sidewalks, new trees and street furniture. Through the City’s Parks Without Borders Initiative, the Alliance will also create two new entrances on Flatbush Avenue, and improve the entrance on Flatbush Avenue at Empire Boulevard.

Learn more about improvements on the East Side of the Park.

Reimagine Prospect Park is made possible through the generous support of The Altman Foundation.

 

c. NYC Parks Department

Alliance Participates in NYC Tree Mapping

November 17, 2016

Last year, Prospect Park Alliance partnered with NYC Parks in support of TreesCount! 2015, a citywide street tree census and an ambitious effort to better care for our leafy neighbors. The Alliance committed to mapping 100 block edges for the count, and recruited and trained a dedicated group of 192 volunteers to examine street trees, identify the diversity of species and look for signs of tree health and stewardship using mapping software. 

After about a dozen TreesCount! 2015 expeditions, the Alliance succeeded in mapping 3,412 trees around the entire perimeter of the Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Curious about the amount of air pollutants removed by the London Plane tree on the corner of 10th street and Prospect Park West? 3 pounds. How about the number of trees in all of Windsor Terrace? 2,188. The interactive map created by NYC Parks can give you a general snapshot of the trees in your area, or provide you with granular data about the health of the American elm outside your window.

Thanks to this census, we can say that the monetary value of these shady neighbors is over $111 million annually, which includes values for intercepted stormwater, energy conserved and carbon dioxide reduction. Which is to say nothing of the intangible benefit one gets from walking down a tree-lined street this time of year as the colors change. 

“The Alliance was proud to participate in this endeavor, and thanks our dedicated Volunteer Corps, as well as NYC Parks, the Park Slope Civic Council, and our partners on the Community Committee for their help with this project,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. 

Take a closer look at the trees in your area. 

PPA Profiles: Tammy Hall, Storyteller

September 19, 2016

Veteran storyteller Tammy Hall began her career 20 years ago with the Prospect Park Alliance at Lefferts Historic House, and since that time has grown into one of the Brooklyn’s favorite teller of tales. In Prosect Park, she brings to life stories from around the world, as well as those told to the Lefferts grandchildren by matriarch Femmetie in the 18th century. In addition, she celebrates the work of Brooklyn’s own Ezra Jack Keats as part of the Alliance’s summer storytelling series at Imagination Playground. On September 25, the Prospect Park Alliance will celebrate this important milestone with a Storytelling Festival at Lefferts Historic House.

Tammy was born in Tennessee, where she grew up listening to Southern tales told by her father, and in the past 20 years as a storyteller has expanded her repertoire to hundreds of stories. In addition to her work with the Prospect Park Alliance, she teaches Folk Arts at the Dr. Betty Shabazz School in Brooklyn (PS 298) and has performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apollo Theater and Symphony Space.

But Prospect Park is where it all began, according to Tammy. “I was in Prospect Park taking my daughter to the Carousel when I noticed Lefferts Historic House and spied a man telling tales under a large tree. The sight of him with his arms in the air engaging the audience was intoxicating and I thought this is something I have to do.”

Tammy was introduced to former Lefferts director Vivienne Shaffer, and began to volunteer during events, which turned into a professional appointment for Scary Stories of the Past at Halloween, and Summer Songs and Stories, which she performs to this date.

Maria Carrasco, Vice President for Public Programs at the Alliance, describes her work: “When Tammy tells her tales, stories come to life, imaginations soar and we are encouraged to expand our thinking and move beyond just being an observer. Tammy is amazing to work with and we are proud to be able to help her celebrate this wonderful milestone.”

Join us for the Storytelling Festival on September 25, and hear some of Tammy’s most beloved stories. RSVP today.