Major Renovation Starts at Brooklyn's Prospect Park

The northeast corner of Prospect Park will undergo a major renovation this year, with upgrades to a children's pool, woodland restoration and a new pollinator corridor garden. 

New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, New York City Economic Development Corporation Chief Infrastructure Officer Joshua Kraus, and Prospect Park Alliance Board Chair Iris Weinshall and President Morgan Monaco on Monday joined members of the community to break ground on the restoration of the Vale, a somewhat secluded corner of Prospect Park.

The $37.5 million, 8-acre project, funded by the city, is the single largest capital allocation to Prospect Park since Lakeside in 2010-2013, officials said.

The Vale restoration, the first in more than 50 years, transforms two key landscapes: the historic Children’s Pool (a decorative water feature) and a former rose garden.

The restoration of the Children’s Pool will bring back historic details while improving wildlife habitat through new plantings and bird-friendly features. The former rose garden, which features three disused concrete basins, will be transformed into three connected landscapes that respect the park’s historic design while restoring the woodland landscape. The project will also add new amenities, including: a pollinator garden and planted arbor; a children’s nature exploration area; a picnicking lawn and a small pavilion with composting restrooms and a shaded terrace.

Dating back to the park's creation in the mid-1800s, the Children's Pool also is a habitat for birds and other wildlife. Its design features several layers of history: the original Olmsted and Vaux design; McKim, Mead and White updates that introduced formal elements including a marble balustrade; and additional changes made during the 1930s.

The restoration brings back the pool's shoreline and historic architectural elements; replaces invasive plants with new native plants; makes pathways ADA accessible; and installs discreet bubblers to circulate the water and prevent stagnation. The restoration will also add bird-friendly features, including bird baths just below the water’s surface, along with aquatic plantings and mudflats. The landscape is surrounded by woodland areas that were restored in recent years after being devastated by severe storms including Hurricane Sandy.

"When we invest in our public spaces, New Yorkers notice. This project demonstrates our commitment to giving New Yorkers of all ages free and accessible places to enjoy the natural world and escape the hustle of the city," NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said in a statement.

The Prospect Park Vale was originally designed as a Children's Playground and home to the park's first carousel. At the turn of the 20th century, it became a formal rose garden. In the late 1960's, after decades of decline, the city removed the flower beds and attempted to restore the fountains, which quickly became nonfunctional. Today, Alliance and Parks staff maintain the area, and restoration will improve its accessibility, infrastructure and habitat value.

The Upper Vale, the former rose garden, features three interconnected landscapes:

• Pollinator Meadow: At the south end of the Vale, a pollinator meadow features insect and bird-friendly species such as Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea pallida ). An accessible pathway leads to an arbor planted with Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) for shade and beauty, and features a viewing area with a leaning rail. Historic benches line the rear of the arbor, along with companion seating for those in wheelchairs. Subtle fencing protects the meadow and surrounding woodland areas, which serve as wildlife habitat.
• Nature Exploration Area: In the center of the Vale, a nature-based play area is defined by additional pollinator plantings and native trees and shrubs that provide habitat for birds and pollinators. The shrubs are thickly planted to serve as a natural border, separating the wooded edges from the primary play spaces, which include: a variety of tree stumps, logs, and boulders configured for walking, jumping, balancing, sitting and playing; an accessible hand pump; and a sand area for children of all ages and abilities. Accessible seating is dotted along the edges of the play area with a central, native red maple tree to provide shade.
• Picnic Lawn and Northeast Pavilion: At the north end of the Vale, the landscape opens to a picnic lawn and small pavilion. A mix of native oaks frame the open lawn, creating an inviting, shady and flexible open space. The perimeter is lined with historic benches and companion seating, and includes a new drinking fountain. The pavilion is built into the hillside at the northern end of the site, with a green roof that becomes an extension of the pollinator meadow. The pavilion is LEED certified and constructed of stone and wood finishes that are evocative of the park, with bird-friendly fritted windows. The ground floor, accessible from the lawn, features eight all-gender composting toilets, two of which are ADA accessible, and are similar to those found at the Wellhouse at the park's Peninsula. In addition, a grey water garden recycles sink water to further reduce waste. An upper-level terrace provides shaded seating to enjoy the views of the landscape.

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"Prospect Park Alliance has an award-winning track record of historic restoration and woodland preservation,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco. “This design is reflective of the talent of our team, the deep engagement with our community, and the future we hope to steward in Prospect Park. We are delighted to move forward bringing this vision into reality."

The restoration project is expected to be completed in 2027.