Low-Key Spots Near Park Slope For Outdoor Fun On Memorial Day

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Prepare yourself for a Memorial Day unlike any other, thanks to social distancing measures to slow the new coronavirus' spread.

NYPD officers are poised to crack down on large gatherings, city beaches are closed and mask requirements will ensure bizarre new tan lines.

But many Brooklynites likely will want to spend time outside — and probably, most-definitely lots of it — after weeks of being cooped up, coupled with forecasted warm weather and partly cloudy skies for Memorial Day.

Prospect Park has already been mobbed with sun bathers, cyclists and the less-than-socially distant, so finding a more laid-back spot is a must for anyone's coronavirus outdoor holiday wishlist.

So, Patch — with the help of some readers — compiled a list of low-key places in and near Park Slope where it may (no guarantees) be easier to enjoy the outdoors this Memorial Day without running into large crowds.

Check some of the suggestions out below:

Green-Wood Cemetery

OK, if you live in or near Park Slope you probably already know about Green-Wood Cemetery. And Memorial Day is often a busy day for crowds at cemeteries — it's where the "memorial" in the holiday comes from, after all.

But hear us out — the historic cemetery between Park Slope, Sunset Park and other west and south Brooklyn neighborhoods has become a favorite open space spot during the coronavirus pandemic. All of its gates have been open to give people chances to walk along shaded paths, enjoy the blossoms and find a calm spot. It's more than spacious enough for a leisurely stroll, provided you follow the rules.

Some rule-breaking knuckleheads almost ruined a good thing for everybody and forced cemetery officials a few weeks ago to warn they'd close the gates if people didn't treat the grounds with respect. That hasn't come to pass — so, if you visit (and you should) just remember you read about it on a list of low-key Memorial Day spots.

Bush Terminal Piers Park

Salty about New York City beaches being closed? Still looking for some time near the water in a rule-abiding way?

Check out Bush Terminal Piers Park. This relatively-new city park in Sunset Park gives views of a nearby tidal pools, the Bay Ridge Channel and the Manhattan skyline.

Consider this an alternative to the likely-packed Brooklyn Promenade.

69th Street / Bay Ridge / American Veterans Memorial Pier

"Memorial" is in one of its many names, people.

This Patch reader suggestion is a little farther south from Bush Terminal Piers Park and offers a similar panoramic skyline view. The pier itself is wide and spacious, and a perfect destination if you're going for a waterfront walk.

Gowanus Canal

Don't let the fact the canal is one of the most polluted waterways in the country deter you. First of all, it might deter the Memorial Day crowds.

But more importantly, an open-eyed walk along the Canal will give you a chance to see the spots where nature is steadily recovering along its banks. Plus, the Gowanus area is itself going through a revitalization that you can appreciate from a slower pace.

Walk across the Union Street, Carroll Street, Third Street and Ninth Street bridges straddling the canal. Take a moment to take in the water at the quiet Gowanus Canal Sponge park. And walk a little further into Carroll Gardens to stretch out on the city "Open Streets" on First Place, Second Place and Fourth Place.

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