Prospect Park Celebrates 'Juneteenth Way,' Lefferts House Upgrade

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Brooklyn's Backyard marked the start of a $2.5 million restoration of its Lefferts Historic House on Friday by unveiling a new photo exhibit and Juneteenth-themed pathway.

The groundbreaking ceremony, the morning before Juneteenth holiday, came with a designation of the path across from the Lefferts House as "Juneteenth Way," complete with a stretch of benches painted with the colors of the pan-African flag.

A photo exhibit celebrating the park was unveiled along the construction fence at the historic house, which is now a museum focusing on the lives of the people that lived and worked the land, including the Lenape, Dutch colonists and enslaved Africans.

"It is fitting that this momentous occasion would fall on the eve of Juneteenth," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. "We hope that collectively we can reflect and acknowledge the history of this site as a former slave property. Thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance and the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York City Council, the Lefferts Historic House will be restored and renewed to serve as a living testament to the hurdles we have overcome in the quest for equality and as a reminder of the harsh realities of slavery."

The $2.5-million restoration of Lefferts will include replacing its roof, restoring the exterior and repairing paths and drainage around the house. It is slated to be done by fall 2022.

The "Juneteenth Way" path will eventually be renamed for a celebrated Black community member through the NYC Parks Renaming Project, which has renamed dozens of park sites across New York City for Black New Yorkers, including the Prospect Park bandshell this week.

The photo exhibit, "Prospect Park: My Oasis in Brooklyn," features photos taken by Brooklyn-based photographer Jamel Shabazz, who has documented the people and places in Brooklyn's Backyard for 41 years. It was put together with the help of Photoville and will be on view until Dec. 1 this year.