Author Of Prospect Park's Mythical Alternate Reality Unveiled

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Hundreds of eels dumped into the lake this fall may have to compete with talking trees, ogres and baby dragons for the title of most mysterious creature in Prospect Park.

A chronicle of the fictitious, mythical goings on in Brooklyn's backyard — which first confused and delighted readers as an anonymous Tumblr page in 2016 — has returned with a new website and an identity for its once-unknown author.

The "This Week In Prospect Park" website was set up by Park Slope comedy writer Soren Kisiel this fall with a full archive of his "dispatches from Brooklyn's largest public park."

The news-like postings transport readers to a version of Prospect Park where ogre relocation, bridge troll mating season and werewolf bans are among hot topics in park maintenance.

"In my mind the ideal reader stumbles on it accidentally, and takes a moment to realize it's fictitious," Kisiel told Patch. "That's how I'd want to first encounter it."

Before he revealed himself as the author, Kisiel said people would even call the real-life Prospect Park Alliance to see if they knew who was behind the stories, or to ask for fake staff members named in the fictional world.

The posts include quotes from nonexistent employees at the Prospect Park Alliance and other made-up characters, like the leader of the Wideleaf Gnome clan.

Now that his identity is revealed, though, Park Slopers might recognize Kisiel from other projects he's worked on focused on the neighborhood.

A comedy video he and his wife, Katie Goodman, made in 2012 called "Sh*t Park Slope Parents Say" went "locally-viral" and has racked up nearly 187,000 views. Kisiel co-authors and directs an all-women troupe with Goodman called Broad Comedy.

The Prospect Park project was also inspired by the neighborhood, where Kisiel still lives. He said the idea occurred to him during his regular runs through the park grounds.

"Prospect Park has so many surprises, so many hidden secrets, and while running I would find my mind wandering, creating fantasies of the mysterious creatures living just out of sight," he said. "I've always been a fan of myths and legends and the way they spark the reader's imagination about the world around them, so I thought it would be fun to share."

The website, like the Tumblr, has a small but growing number of fans, Kisiel said, especially among local Park Slope Facebook groups.

"Every now and then I'll receive a random note along the lines of "This is amazing," he said. "My favorite recent response was someone who shared the new website on their socials with simply the line 'I love Brooklyn.'"

Check out the Kisiel's mythical stories here.