As we Brooklynites say, "Olmstead and Vaux practiced their park design on Central Park in Manhattan and used what they learned to make Prospect Park their masterpiece." The park has spectacular views down Long Meadow and around the lake, areas of forest and classic buildings and arches.

It is a wonderful place to run, walk or bike (a 3.5 mile roadway goes completely around the park) or just to laze on the grass or have family barbeques and picnics. There are stables across the road and bridle paths throughout the park. There are baseball and soccer fields in the park and across the street in the Parade Grounds. The Prospect Park Zoo is within the park and across the street there is the spectacular Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Returning in late 2013 is ice skating (and roller skating) in a completely new rink. The Brooklyn Marathon is held within the park, as well shorter races throughout the year. The Carousel is open all summer and many weekends during the rest of the year.

There is a drum circle filled with drummers on weekends during the summer months, as well as concerts from a broad range of musical styles at the Bandshell. One evening during the summer, the New York Philharmonic performs to a crowd of thousands of picnickers and music lovers, followed by fireworks.

Saturdays throughout the year at the Grand Army Plaza entrance is a very special greenmarket, and another smaller greenmarket on Wednesdays near Bartel Pritchard Square. Both are heavily attended by the neighbors.

As the site of the Battle of Long Island in the American Revolution, you can trace the progress of the British by Lookout Hill and over Battle Pass, while at the Maryland Monument you can honor the 400 Marylanders whose desperate stand allowed George Washington to evacuate his troops to Manhattan and on to New Jersey to fight another day.

Other history is found in the over 200-year old Lefferts House built by a Dutch family in nearby Flatbush. Children's programs and historic tours are presented there.

Prospect Park even has its own cemetery. Although it is private, you can peek through the fence at the Quaker Cemetery.

And it is all safe, clean and cheap. The 2 or 3 subway trains to Grand Army Plaza, the Q or B to Prospect Park or Parkside or the F to Prospect Park-15th St all take you to the edge of the park.

Nice place to have a walk, great this time of year as the leaves are starting to change and very pretty.

So much more than just an open green space! It's a great place to walk, picnic, boat, ice skate (in the right season!), run, admire the trees, go to the zoo or walk around the botanical gardens. Walk through the park to the Grand Army Plaza on a Saturday and treat yourself to a tasty morsel from the farmers market. Just for trivia - it was designed by the same people who gave Manhattan Central Park!

Prospect Park is an oasis in the middle of a city. My grandmother thought the same - and she was born in 1895! It hasn't lost any of it's charm between the 1890's, the 1960's and today although it can be a bit dangerous to go off the beaten path alone hence the 4 stars rather than 5. It would be hard to grow up in Brooklyn and not have lots of great memories set in Prospect Park. We spent summer days strolling the paths, visiting the zoo, riding the carousel and visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. In the winter, we went sledding on lookout hill and skated at Wolman Rink (closed for construction 2012-2013) While the park has been updated over the years, you'll still find history peeking out from behind the trees. Don't miss the Boathouse, the old Quaker cemetery, the well house and the many monuments scattered around the park. George Washington was said to have viewed the Battle of Long Island from here. He couldn't have picked a nicer spot. :)