Prospect Park Getting $7.6M Worth of Upgrades

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Prospect Park is getting $7.6 million worth of upgrades through capital projects that are part of the city's fiscal year 2018 budget.

The Prospect Park Alliance, the nonprofit organization that works with the city to manage the park, announced the projects Thursday morning.

"We thank Mayor Bill de Blasio, the City Council and Borough President Eric L Adams for allocating these funds so that the Alliance can continue its work restoring and advancing the Park," Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue said in a press release. "We are so grateful for the support of our local elected officials so that we can improve the Park for the millions of community members who consider it Brooklyn's Backyard."

The largest new project is a $5.1 million restoration of the Prospect Park Tennis House, which has been closed to the public for 10 years. It's unclear what the plans are for the new tennis house, but the alliance notes that the structure "was designed by the same architect as the Prospect Park Boathouse, and originally served as a facility for lawn tennis players at the turn of the 19th century."

The money for the tennis house restoration comes from the city council and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The southern, Parkside Avenue edge of the park will get a $1 million upgrade, courtesy of money from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams' office. That will include a new sidewalk, lighting, street furniture and new trees.

"The Parkside Avenue perimeter, as part of the greater eastern border of Prospect Park, is crucial to bringing greater equity to the open space experiences all Brooklynites seek," Adams said in the press release. "I am proud to support this restoration through my capital budget."

Work will begin on Long Meadow Ball Fields 2 and 3, as part of the alliance's effort to upgrade all seven fields, including flood protections, better lighting and new benches. City Councilman Brad Lander's office provided $750,000 for that effort.

And $734,000 will be spent on new turf at the parade grounds, which came from City Councilman Mathieu Eugene's office.

To see all of the capital projects currently under way at the park, click here.

Image: Michael Nagle/Getty Images