Prospect Park Officially Goes Car-Free, City Says

PARK SLOPE, NY — Brooklyn's back yard permanently went car-free on Tuesday. The city banned private vehicles from driving on roads inside Prospect Park after a successful trial removing them last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.

The park previously opened some roads to cars on weekdays during the morning rush hour. However, the city announced in October it would permanently prohibit them starting this year, with Tuesday being the first official day the ban starts.

"Today, we are providing a great new year’s gift that recognizes the special place the park holds for so many other Brooklyn families," de Blasio said in a statement. "Now as a safe refuge that has permanently removed cars, the park can expect to see even more people enjoying walking, jogging and bicycling on its beautiful loop road."

The East Drive of Prospect Park used to open for private vehicles between 7 to 9 a.m. on weekdays, but walkers, joggers and cyclists outnumbered cars more than three to one on those roads during those times, the city said.

The Department of Transportation started a trial last summer to keep the park closed off to cars all day, which they found only slightly affected traffic on streets near the park during the morning rush hour. After the trial, more than 1,100 resident signed a petition calling for a full-time ban and de Blasio announced it would become official in October 2017.

The move was welcome by nearby residents, some of whom waved goodbye to the last private vehicle to drive through the park last week with a bike ride following it through.

Image: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)