Prospect Park Carousel To Reopen For First Time Since Pandemic

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — The "painted ponies" of Prospect Park are ready to ride again.

The beloved Prospect Park Carousel will be up and running this weekend for the first time since its long hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, the Prospect Park Alliance announced on Wednesday.

It will include COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, enhanced cleaning and reduced capacity on the ride.

The carousel is one of several activities in Brooklyn's Backyard that the alliance revealed in its spring event line-up.

Other activities on the docket include the seasonal return of roller skating, boating and biking at the Lefrak Center and Friday night disco roller disco parties. A "Spring Fling" is also in the works with Brooklyn Public Library for May 8.

Here's a look at the full season of events, provided by the Alliance:

Roller Skating, Boating and Biking Return!
Daily, Hours Vary
LeFrak Center at Lakeside: prospectpark.org/lakeside
Brooklyn's favorite warm-weather pastime is back in Prospect Park! Head to the LeFrak Center at Lakeside for roller skating, and enjoy bike and boat rentals, and food from the Bluestone Cafe.

Prospect Park Carousel Reopens
Thurs - Sun & Holidays, 12-5 pm
Prospect Park Carousel, $2.50 per ride; $11.50 for a book of five tickets, unlimited rides with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership and above: prospectpark.org/carousel
Prospect Park's beloved Carousel is back! Enjoy a ride on this historic treasure's horses, lions, giraffes and deer with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Dreamland Roller Disco
Fridays, 7-10 pm
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prices Vary, 21+
Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco at Lakeside in Prospect Park is a themed, dress up, immersive roller skating experience that will transport you into a fabulous retro roller disco “dreamland.”

Green and Go Kits
Most Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 1 pm
Locations Vary, Free, Register: prospectpark.org/green-and-go
Individuals and groups are invited to join Prospect Park Alliance to help keep our park green and vibrant—register to check out Green and Go Kits at various locations around the park. These kits include a trash grabber, garbage bags and gloves. Green and Go Kits are presented in partnership with Macy's.

Prospect Park Walking Tours
Sundays, 10:30 am
Prospect Park, Prices Vary, Registration Required: prospectpark.org/tours
Discover Prospect Park’s hidden treasures, natural wonders and little-known history on guided tours of the park, presented by Turnstile Tours in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance. Explore everything about Prospect Park, from its flora and geology, to the architectural movements that shaped the park, to the evolution of recreation and play. See how use of the park has changed over time from designers Olmsted and Vaux’s original vision all the way to present day and Prospect Park Alliance’s sustainability, historic preservation, and recreational projects that make the park the world-class destination it is today.

Play + Go and Nature's Helpers
Alternating Sats + Suns, 12-4 pm
Locations Vary, Free: prospectpark.org/play-go
Join Prospect Park Alliance as we bring our favorite activities from the Prospect Park Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House on the road in easy-to-borrow Pop-Up Lefferts and Pop-Up Audubon Play + Go Kits. Mix and match historic games and toys or nature games and activities. While you are here, you can participate in our new Nature's Helpers activities by lending a hand and participating in a stewardship activity such as raking, litter patrol or mulching and afterwards, take a fun nature walk and explore the natural wonders of the park or search for the many historic elements that are scattered all around us. Pop-Up Audubon is made possible through the generous support of Con Edison. Pop-Up Lefferts is supported in part by NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

It’s My Park Mondays
Mondays starting May 3 excluding holidays, 10 am - 1 pm
Locations Vary, Free, Register: prospectpark.org/its-my-park
Join Prospect Park Alliance for It's My Park Mondays, a series of community volunteer events where you can help keep the park clean during these challenging times. Individuals will be provided with a trash grabber, garbage bags and gloves. We will also have a limited supply of materials available for walk-ins.

Spring Fling with Brooklyn Public Library
Saturday, May 8, 11 am-4 pm
Prospect Park Children's Corner
Prospect Park Alliance is teaming up with Brooklyn Public Library and local partners to host a day of family fun with library programs, entertainment, and civic engagement! Enjoy music and art programs, bubble making, BPL Bookmobile, Ranked Choice Voting workshop and much more!

Public Water
Open daily from June 3
Grand Army Plaza Park Entrance: prospectpark.org/public-water
Join Prospect Park Alliance, More Art, NYC Parks and Brooklyn Public Library for a new public art installation by visual artist Mary Mattingly. Her new project, Public Water, examines issues of water quality, access, privatization and infrastructure facing the NYC watershed, which provides more than a billion gallons of clean water daily to nine million state residents, and also feeds the Prospect Park watercourse. The project includes a water-filtering sculptural ecosystem and a self-guided walking tour through the park's watershed.

caribBEING in Prospect Park
Sundays in June, Free: prospectpark.org/caribbeing
caribBEING, a Flatbush-based cultural organization that builds awareness and fosters Caribbean heritage, is partnering with Prospect Park Alliance for a third season to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Details to be announced for in persona and virtual public programs.

Last Chance! Inspired By “What Is Left," Brooklyn Hi-Art! Machine
On View Through June 22
Prospect Park Bandshell, Free: prospectpark.org/celebratewithme
BRIC and Prospect Park Alliance, in partnership with NYC Parks, present Inspired By “What Is Left,” a public art installation by the collaborative duo Brooklyn Hi-Art! Machine (artists Oasa DuVerney and Mildred Beltre). The text-based installation quotes the late poet Lucille Clifton and offers the Brooklyn community a message of resilience and perseverance. It is the first major public art project in Prospect Park since the pandemic, and one of the first installations at the Bandshell in its history.

Locations, Directions and Hours

Children’s Corner
Willink entrance, at the intersection of Flatbush Ave. and Empire Blvd.
By subway: Q, S, or B to Prospect Park Station.
By bus: B16, B41, and B43

• Lefferts Historic House Closed for restoration: enjoy our Pop-Up Lefferts program from May–Sept on alternating Saturdays + Sundays.
• Prospect Park Zoo Admission: Adults $9.95, Children (3–12) $6.95, Seniors (65+) $7.95. Children under 3 free. Hours: Open daily, Weekdays: 10 am–5 pm, Weekends and Holidays: 10 am–5:30 pm

LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Parkside and Ocean Avenue or Lincoln Road Entrance. Walk directly across the Drive and follow the path to Lakeside.
By subway: Q, B and S to Prospect Park Station; Q train to Parkside Avenue station
By bus: B12 or B16 to Parkside and Ocean Avenues, B 41 to Ocean Avenue
Admission & hours: Visit our website for up-to-date hours, pricing and programming

Prospect Park Tennis Center
Located at the Parade Ground, 50 Parkside Avenue at Coney Island Avenue
By subway: F to Fort Hamilton Parkway station (exit at Greenwood/Prospect Ave.), Q to Parkside Avenue station
By bus: B68 along Coney Island Avenue to Parkside Avenue
Hours: 7 am–11 pm daily, advance reservations recommended.

Programs and prices are subject to change. For up-to-date information, please visit our website: prospectpark.org/events.

About Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the nonprofit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home, working in partnership with the City. The Alliance provides a majority of the staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant. Learn more at prospectpark.org.