There is a proposed plan in Brooklyn to pave about 20,000
square feet of Mount Prospect Park to create a sports facility.
I think this not a good site, and hope an already-paved site can
be found to avoid destroying green space. The proposal is for
a skate “park.” With over $11 million of tax-payer money budgeted,
including funds for plantings, this project should create green space
—not destroy it.
Mount Prospect Park is a neighborhood park between the Brooklyn
Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Library. It includes the second
highest point in Brooklyn. Walking up the steps and entering it
feels like discovering a hidden attic room of trees just off Eastern
Parkway.
The extensive hardscape would represent a area of over four NBA-size
basketball courts in the center of this small park - it would dominate it.
Local residents rely on the park for a wide range of activities—informal
sports, picnics, unstructured play, dog walking, etc—particularly for families,
seniors, and local daycares. Preserving this flexible green area is essential for
community well-being and accessibility.
There are also many environmental concerns. Replacing natural green space
with concrete contributes to increased urban heat, worsens flooding and
stormwater runoff, and undermines climate resilience efforts. In New York
City, even small patches of green space provide outsized benefits - their rarity
amplifies their value. The conversion of living, absorptive soil into hardscape is
not just a visual change — it fundamentally alters the function of the land.
Additionally there are environmental equity issues about how and which
Council Districts and Community Boards have had any opportunity to weigh
in on the site of this project. There really has been extremely little to no
chance for the community to select this site.
And, from my point of view as a bird lover—at a time when North America
has lost nearly ONE-THIRD of its bird populations—it is impossible to justify
punnecessary reductions in urban habitat. Many of the birds we see are
migratory - they stop here in critical need of food and habitat on their
incredible journeys.
Importantly, this issue is not about opposing skateboarding. It’s about not
paving green space. Most people who are concerned about this support the
creation of new and improved skate facilities. However, they advocate for a
win-win solution: investing in underutilized or already-paved areas nearby.
Several alternative locations—such as large paved spaces or existing skate
parks in need of upgrades are in close proximity —have been identified as
viable options that would allow for high-quality skate facilities without
sacrificing green parkland.
Here are two important and quick actions - would be phenomenal if you
could do!
Write to Community Board 8 - by April 8th - to ask them to vote against
this project. brooklyncb8@gmail.com
Write to the Mayor asking him to halt this project and find an already-paved
site instead of Mount Prospect Park’s green space.
https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/contact-the-mayor?zlinkid=4bdde813-2557-420d-adec-5cdbbd17d6f9
Please visit https://www.friendsofmountprospectpark.org/take-action
tpo sign up to get updates on this, to donate, etc.
Thank you,
Lisa Curtiss
