A Visitors Guide to Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York

Located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, Prospect Park welcomes eight million visitors each year. The 585-acre park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Manhattan's famous Central Park. Prospect Park offers a wealth of activities and events throughout the year, making it a worthwhile destination for locals and visitors alike.

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Things to Do

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY — Barry Winiker/Getty Images

There are plenty of things to do in Prospect Park, including taking a boat tour at the Audubon Center, going fishing, riding horses, taking a foraging or walking tour, renting a pedal boat, or simply taking a leisurely stroll through the beautiful grounds.

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Landmarks and Attractions

Sea lion waits for feeding time at the Prospect Park Zoo. — Steven Greaves/Getty Images

Prospect Park is home to a number of well-known landmarks and attractions, including Grand Army Plaza, Lefferts Historic House, and the Prospect Park Zoo. The zoo is a great choice for visitors traveling with young children, as well as animal lovers.

The LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park is also a great family choice, as they offer rollerskating in the summer months, and ice skating in the wintertime.

For bird lovers, a visit to the Prospect Park Boathouse and Audubon Center is a must. It is the first urban-area Audubon Center in the country, and you will be able to learn about the over 240 species of feathered friends that visit the park each year. The center is open year-round and offers bird-centric activities, including birdwatching tours.

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Tours

If you'd rather have a hand at exploring Prospect Park, consider taking one of these tours. The Prospect Park Alliance and Turnstile Tours hosting a series of walking tours that examine the history of "Brooklyn's Backyard". These tours take place on select Sundays and select Friday evenings.

Big Onion Walking Tours conducts a popular two-hour Prospect Park Walking Tour that gives a great overview of the park. On this tour, you'll visit all three districts of the park, the lake district, the meadow district, and the rustic district.

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Directions

Prospect Park is quite large, but like most New York City attractions, it's well served by public transportation. If you are more inclined to drive, there is limited street parking available, or you could opt for a nearby garage, but know that it will not come cheap.

Boundaries

Prospect Park West
Prospect Park Southwest
Parkside Avenue (southwest)
Ocean Avenue (southeast)
Washington Avenue (east)
Eastern Parkway (north)

Subways

F at 7th Ave., 15th St./Prospect Park, and Fort Hamilton Parkway stations
2/3 at Grand Army Plaza
Q at Parkside Ave. and Prospect Park stations
S at Prospect Park
B at Prospect Park

Parking

There is street parking available around Prospect Park's perimeter. Pay attention to parking regulations and bring quarters to feed the meter if you park at a metered spot.
Litchfield Villa has a limited number of parking spots available.
The Picnic House has permit-only parking for events

Continue to 5 of 5 below.

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Concerts and Events

A Metropolitan Opera production with Mark Delavan as Rigoletto and Norah Amsellem as Gilda performing Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ at Central Park’s Great Lawn on Wednesday night, August 23, 2006 — Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images

Prospect Park hosts a wide variety of different events throughout the year, particularly in the summer. Celebrate Brooklyn in the Prospect Park Bandshell is by far the most popular, and even includes some free shows throughout the season.

Philharmonic in the Parks and the Metropolitan Opera in the Parks gives guests a chance to enjoy classical music under the stars.