Place Matters Place Matters

Grand Army Plaza

About this listing

Ovular public plaza serving as Prospect Park’s main entrance

Place Details

Borough : Brooklyn
Neighborhood : Prospect Heights

Open Space, Recreation, Gathering Place

Place Matters Profile

On The Web

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/B040/

Nominations

Jay Klotz

A huge open space that serves as the grand entrance to Olmstead and Vaux’s masterpiece, Prospect Park, GAP allows one to see the sky, and it invites one into the park past the ornamental columns and gazebos that flank the park entrance. There are benches, a large fountain, trees, and of course the arch, a memorial (along with the entire plaza) to Union soldiers in the Civil War. The space is also a public gathering spot, including for a weekly farmers’ market, Chanukah menorah lighting, demonstrations, sitting and people watching, the terminus for the Caribbean day parade, even dancing. Grand Army Plaza features a good amount of benches and other sitting places, which allows for social distancing while enjoying the space.

(added April 2020)