Originally called Tompkins Park, Von King Park was founded in 1871 and is one of Brooklyn's very first parks. The park was renamed in 1985 after Herbert Von King (1912-1985), a longstanding and beloved community leader, considered during his time the "Mayor of Bedford-Stuyvesant."
Von King Park is a 7.82-acre town square cradled between Greene, Marcy, Lafayette and Tompkins Avenues. Over the years, the park has gone through many changes as the borough changed, from serving as a welcome and lively escape from the urban grind, to a gathering place for unsavory characters, and then back again to a community center and a family, sports and cultural arts magnet.
The park's landscaping could use some improvement, but it is a regular hangout for skateboarders, joggers and parents with small children. Other benefits include a nicely manicured baseball field, a small basketball court, two handball courts, two playgrounds and an outdoor amphitheatre. In the center of the park sits the Von King Recreation Center which houses a mini petting zoo (reptiles, birds, turtles, rabbits and other small creatures), a computer center, an after-school center and a friendly and dedicated staff.
Eighth Avenue's Church of the Virgin Mary is a Greek Melkite Catholic church. Services are offered in Arabic, and Arabic study programs are offered as well. The church itself was purchased in the 1950s from the Park Slope Congregational Church Eighth Avenue and Second Street, and remodeled into an indredibly ornate structure, replete with many stained glass windows.
Prospect Park is a 585-acre public park located in Brooklyn. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Prospect Park after they completed Central Park, and the two are similar in terms of greenery and activities. Prospect Park, however, has a way of blocking out the sound of city life in a manner that Central Park cannot accomplish. For those who wish to escape the noise without leaving the city, Prospect Park is the place to be.
Must see and must do at Prospect Park
Bicycling is a must around the park, but is only allowed on the Park Drives, which include a 3.35-mile loop. People with dogs can take advantage of off-leash hours (5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) at the Long Meadow, Nethermead, and Peninsula Meadow-even Dog Beach allows for a place to swim during those hours. Prospect Park is also known as a premier park for barbecuing and picnicking in designated areas, especially the shaded area north of the Picnic House. Patrons are welcome to bring their own barbecues, or use the ones provided first-come, first-served.
Best and worst time to go to Prospect Park
Prospect Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. On Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the Grand Army Plaza entrance, there is a popular Greenmarket that serves farm-fresh products to locals and tourists alike. Although the park is open late, it may not be in a single traveler's best interest to explore the park alone after 11 p.m. The wooded areas technically close at sunset.
Admission to Prospect Park
Admission is free for all. There are 17 entrances to the park from Grand Army Plaza all the way around to the corner of Flatbush Ave and Empire Blvd.
Wildlife at Prospect Park
Birdwatching is a popular activity, where more than 200 species are spotted each year. The park is located under the Atlantic Flyway (a migration route that follows the Atlantic Coast of the U.S.) providing a habitat for hungry, breeding and wintering birds. Expect to see ducks and sparrows in the winter, and warblers and hawks in the spring (plus many more). Hotspots include Lookout Hill, the Midwood and Prospect Lake.
Internet access at Prospect Park
Wi-Fi is available near the Picnic House under the SSID "attwifi," but it may be a bit spotty if too many people are using it.
Insider tip for Prospect Park
The Ravine rivals that of Central Park, and is known to house Brooklyn's only forest. Olmsted and Vaux took advantage of naturally formed ponds and lowland plains to craft the watercourse. Enter at 15th Street and and Prospect Park West to head straight there.
Author's bio: Emilia Navarro is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. She always appreciates a natural place to escape to after a hectic day in the city.
The Carroll Gardens Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing, along with workforce training, youth services, tenant services and benefits assistance, and seeks to spur economic development in southwestern Brooklyn. Neighborhoods served include Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus, Sunset Park and the Columbia Street Waterfront District. The Carroll Gardens Association is a designated Neighborhood Preservation Company.
