Prospect Park

Forget the walk-in closet leading to another world. A quick hop on the Q train will transport you to a comparably magical hideaway in the heart of Brooklyn. If you aren't lured in by the dozens of hiking paths, pedal boats or barbeque pits, a simple lakeside picnic ought to rejuvenate the soul. The park is full of rambunctious kids and whimsical folk artists, so if you seek solitude on a warm spring day, bring headphones to make your own sense of inner peace. Be sure to pack a picnic (or at least a snack) if you plan to spend the day in the sun, as there is no guarantee of food carts, and there are few surrounding restaurants. Beautiful foliage and the occasional ice cream cart make this a trip worth taking, especially if you are over the mainstream parks the city has to offer.

Central Park is a household name. My grandmother has never left the state of Illinois and she can tell you where to find this place. But we aren’t here to discuss the largest open plot of land in New York City; allow me to divert your focus towards the most prosperous of the boroughs, Brooklyn! Residing a just jovial jaunt away from several convenient subway stops is the city’s must underrated area for all of your outdoor needs. Prospect park is big enough to get lost in. And without the overbearing Manhattan sky scrapers to blot out the rays, you will not be missing out on the sunshine that so seldom graces the Mid-Atlantic coast. What is so special about Prospect Park? The atmosphere here is incredibly genuine. The paths are not littered with copious amounts of tourists, tourists who photograph their screaming child as an over-fed-mutant-pigeon eats Cheerios out of a reluctant hand. Instead, our wonderful prospect provides a space for anyone who wants a park proper. With clean paths throughout, the urban jogger/cyclist can catch their daily workout away from the fluorescent nightmare that is most health clubs. Here you can keep fit without the smell of bodily fluids, grunting men with their chemical muscles, and the constant hum of the insidious treadmill. We love Prospect Park because it simply serves the public the way a park should, without the unnecessary frills. The layout has a natural feel, almost as if urban planning was not a factor; one could easily believe that this sanctuary existed long before New York City and it could easily remain long after. Do you love to slackline and spend hours toeing your body a few feet above the ground while curious spectators ask you if you are in the circus? Search no more you hippy. This place has endless amounts of prime slacking area. There is nothing like setting up a line with a few friends and burning out the daylight. Or perhaps you are more privy to relax with a book or some good music? Pick a spot, any spot, and set yourself down for some R&R. Prospect Park is most certainly a quality location within the city that most people do not consider in their visit to the Big Apple. Why is this such a well kept secret? I haven’t the slightest idea, so tell all of your friends, pick up my grandmother, and get here as soon as the ground thaws out!

If you're thinking of spending some time outdoors in New York City, and even if you're not, then get your ass over to Prospect Park. If you're into sports, you can find good, often co-ed, pick-up games of Softball, Football, and Ultimate Frisbee on the Long Meadow or the Parade Grounds, during the appropriate seasons (aka, not the winter). Or, if you're looking for a patch of green where you can play whatever sports you want without having to join someone else's game, there's usually enough space for you to do that too. The new Wollman Rink should be pretty awesome too, as it's undergoing a big time renovation, and hopefully it will be open for next winter (it's closed for 2012-2013). If you're looking to run or bike, Prospect Park is great for this too, as there are multiple roads shooting off from the main park loop road that you can use to shorten your jog/ride or just to switch things up a bit. The path also has a couple of reasonable hills (they may not register for hardcore mountain bikers, but for most of the rest of us mortals, they're enough) if you want something other than flat riding/running. The topography also means that you can forget you're in NYC completely when you're in most areas of the park, and there are many places to discover and explore that aren't apparent from just walking around the main roads. If you want some peace and quiet, there are plenty of beautiful places for you to enjoy it. In fact, Central Park actually can't hold a candle to some of the wild-like habitats that Prospect Park hosts. If you're into nature, birding etc., Prospect beats Central all day every day. If you want an awesome free concert series, then look no further than Celebrate Brooklyn, which goes from June through August. It runs the gamut from quality music of just about every genre (and I mean EVERY genre), to ballet and other dance groups, to movies. I could go on and on, but all you really need to know is that Prospect Park is where it's at, and if you haven't checked it out, you need to.

My sister has been to Prospect Park for a few shows and events and loves it every time! We don't live in the city and it's a little bit of a hike to get to, but once you're there, you never want to leave! It is gorgeous and there is always something going on! Everytime there is a show, my sister picks to go to it when it's showing at Prospect Park!

I absolutely love Prospect Park!! Since Brooklyn is the new Manhattan, lots of my friends have moved across the bridge to here and they all come to Prospect Park on the weekends because it’s so big!! There’s so much space and it’s so hard to get that sense in the city! It is also really cool to see the city from the other side! There are good rooftop views in Brooklyn but the view from the park is even better because it’s closer! Lots of hipsters here but it has a real community and friendly feel!

Prospect Park is a beautiful and often underused outdoor space in Brooklyn. What makes it special is its ability to encompass so many things at once; unlike Central Park, whose areas often seem trapped in their typical settings of baseball diamonds or picnic fields, Prospect Park's green pastures can be anything from a sports pitch to a barbecue pit. And did I mention the ladies? Seriously, guys, if you want to see miles of legs on some of the dishiest women in thick black glasses this side of East River, Prospect Park is the place to go. I'm talking vintage-clad bombshells for miles. Whether you're going for an afternoon jog, sipping a brown-bagged beer on your back, or spying on the chicas (did I mention the ladies?), Prospect Park is a welcome respite from your busy day.

I can only speak for myself, but I've always found Central Park to be too manicured to ever feel like I was escaping the big dirty apple and all of it's chaos. Prospect Park has always seemed to offered something a little different. You get everything from gang members, to rastas, to homeless, as well as young families. Prospect park, might be a little gritty around the edges however I find it to be much more authentic than Central Park's collision of midtowners, and Upper East and West-siders. If you're looking for a better mix of everything... Prospect Park is where it's at. Get your bike, your black and mild, your dutch, and/or your baby+stroller and go there!