🌱 Parade Grounds Get An Upgrade + Woman Knocked Down In East Flatbush

Happy Friday, Ditmas Park-Flatbush! Here's everything you need to know going on locallytoday.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cooler. High: 66 Low: 52.

Here are the top three stories today in Ditmas Park-Flatbush:

1. The Parade Ground south of Prospect Park is getting an over $500,000 makeover, which will convert parts of it into a "game space" with new facilities ranging from ping-pong tables, a petanque area and game tables. Officials broke ground on the project earlier this week, and it was also voted on by residents as part of City Council District 40's participatory budgeting initiative. (New York City Patch)
2. Police are searching for a man who sexually abused and knocked down a woman on the street in East Flatbush at 2:10 a.m., according to security footage. The incident took place on Church Avenue. (WABC-TV)
3. Flatbush assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn celebrated the start of Black Maternal Health Week, which was officially designated last year by President Biden in a proclamation. Black women have a rate of preterm birth 50 percent higher than white women, according to the Assemblywoman, who is encouraged by the recent opening of the Morris Heights Health Center in Flatbush. (Caribbean Life)

Today in Ditmas Park-Flatbush:

• Pop Out Good Vibes Fridays at 3612 Clarendon Rd (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A crash occurred Thursday at Rogers & Lefferts St. in Flatbush, according to reports. "The madness on our streets has to end," said Councilwoman Rita Joseph on Twitter. (Twitter)
• Members of the NYPD's 70th Precinct visited Brooklyn Dreams Charter School to talk with students about street safety tips. (Twitter)
• The beloved Prospect Park Carousel opens for the season today. It will be open Thursdays – Sundays and holidays throughout the spring and summer. (Instagram)
• Here's a new Hatha yoga class from the Flatbush YMCA. (Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Dashiell Allen