The Hidden History of Prospect Park The emerald jewel of Brooklyn, Prospect Park is often called the borough’s backyard and has been a serene and idyllic retreat for Brooklynites for well over a century now. In fact, the park recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with great fanfare, attesting its historic importance and role it’s played in city life for generations. Few people, however, know the true history of the park, such as its connection to Central Park and the role it played in the development of Brooklyn real estate in the late 19th century. To that end, here’s a quick look at the hidden history of Prospect Park and the key role it’s played in the city’s history over the years. Before the actual development of the parkland, the …show more content…
area that comprises the park today was the site of the Battle of Long Island on August 21, 1776, one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War. Although the colonial army lost the battle, they bought precious time for Washington’s army to escape and live to fight another day. Later, in 1856, a reservoir was established in what today is the park by the City of Brooklyn. Preserving the area of the battle and the greenery around the reservoir became key impetuses in establishing the park. In the middle of the 19th century, Brooklyn, then a separate city, was growing rapidly. Like neighboring New York City, then confined to just the island of Manhattan, the civic and political leaders of Brooklyn saw the desperate need for new parkland to accommodate their growing population and offer respite from the crowded, industrial cityscape. In 1859, the New York State legislature created a commission to recommend new sites for parkland in Brooklyn. In 1860, the largest and most ambitious planned park was centered around Mount Prospect on the outskirts of the city. Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, the designers of Central Park in Manhattan around the same time, were hired to landscape the new park. By the end of 1860, the land for the planned park was bought up by the City of Brooklyn.
Complications arouse, however, due to the outbreak of the Civil War and commercial and residential land speculation already underway in the area of the park at that time. Olmstead and Vaux’s proposal was finally accepted in 1866 and the park officially opened on October 19, 1867 while still under development. The 1873 financial panic caused work on the park to largely cease, scrapping the more ambitious elements of the planned public space but finally giving Brooklyn a premier public park. Real estate boomed around the park in the late 19th century following its completion. The park underwent a number of redevelopments in the late 1800s and early 1990s as well, adding neoclassical buildings and a memorial to French General Marquis de la Fayette. In 1934, Robert Moses, the powerful yet controversial commissioners of parks in the city, made his mark on Prospect Park by creating new playgrounds, a bandshell and the Prospect Park Zoo. Like many parks in New York City, Prospect Park fell into decline after World War II but was revitalized thanks in large part to the establishment of the Prospect Park Alliance in 1987. Today the park is known as Brooklyn’s crown jewel and hosts nearly 10 million visitors each year as well as popular food festivals, concerts and other
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Woop woop! Is the common sound heard in Beecher Terrace (housing apartments). There are 2.3 million people locked up in the United States. Kentucky spends about fifteen billion dollars per year incarcerating individuals from Beecher Terrace. Since the 1970’s the number of people locked up in the United States has grown from 300,000 to 2.3 million. Kentucky has been the center of this prison expansion. Charles McDuffie, Christel, Demetria, and Keith Huff all have something in common. Each of these individuals are repeat offenders, grew up or lived in Beech Terrace, and have some type of mental issue.
Hines’ article, though not possessing a clear purpose, provides a thorough history of the entire Elysian Park Heights project. He summarizes Chavez Ravine, the architects and their vision, and the downfall of the project due to fears of socialism and a desire for baseball. Hines’ writing effectively triggers a number of emotions, mainly anger and shock that the situation took place. While he provides no introduction to the reader, by the conclusion, Hines definitely provides reason for response.
...he building would not be designed the way they are now in the city. The fair allowed Chicago to be the great city it is today and have the magnificent downtown envied by many other cities.
This mid to late-19th century account of an early Victorian (English) public park illustrates the change of function and transformation of the Victorian public park from its original role as an upper-middle class observatory of Nature to its redefinition as this class' s social observatory of the lower classes. Between the years of 1840 and 1860, the public park's role in the eyes of England' s upper crust changed drastically due to the economic and political structure of Victorian England during this time and J.M. Milton's quote reflects this reality.
Haight Ashbury and its history has been an amazing phenomenon to many visitors. I have found that many people have visited to see the art, learn about the culture, and even hear about what kind of music everyone was obsessed with. Haight was named a “Vibrant Hippie History” because of its bright colors and very artsy buildings. In 1967, Haight formed the famous heyday, which included the infamous “Summer of Love.” This “Summer of Love” included a very psychedelic movement of experimentation and peaceful protests. The way that Haight Ashbury died out was caused by a fall but was originally a neighborhood of revolutionaries, famous singers, and cult leaders. I observed this fall and found out that it had been caused by people trashing it and abandoning it. It was later then filled with homeless people and drugs.
When people think of Central Park, the thought of African-Americans once owning the land is inconceivable. Yet, this was the case 150 years ago when there once thrived a place called Seneca Village.
Gage Park is number sixty-three of seventy-seven neighborhoods that make up the city of Chicago. According to the Chicago Park District (2014), the Gage Park area received its name in honor of Commissioner George Gage who was a respected prominent business man and attorney in the late 1870’s. Located on the southwest side of Chicago; Gage Park is a community that is known for its cultural history and diversity over the years. Many different races have lived in this community from the time it was developed, and this trend continues to evolve. As mentioned in the Encyclopedia of Chicago (2005), the Germans first settled in Gage Park in mid-1800s. Later in the 1920’s, the area became populated with the Polish population who migrated for employment.
If there was a dog park, property values would most definitely go up. The community should try to make every resident happy where they live. Some cat owners don't feel dog owners should be able to get a dog park since they themselves are not asking for a place to bring their cats. Cats are more of indoor animals and they don't need as much attention and exercise as dogs. Cats don't need wide open spaces to play around in. People feel as though they are being treated unfairly due to the lack of yard space and areas for their pets to roam around
Washington Square Park is home to thousands of New York University Students, families leisurely strolling through the park on afternoons, people cooling off at the fountain during the summer, couples lounging on the green grass, and even home to the New York City Pillow Fight held during the summer. At the center of Greenwich Village, it provides an escape from the busy traffic and city surrounding it. Most importantly, it is home to the Washington Square Arch.
hiatus. Plans for a national monument began as early as 1783 when Congress proposed that an
In its long and illustrious history, New York City (NYC) has gone through tremendous change. From a small trading post on the tip of Manhattan Island, to the greatest metropolis in the world, NYC has continued to evolve over time. One period in particular that had more degrees of change than many others, was 1860 to 1865. The lives of the residents of the great port city would be completely changed forever.
Philadelphia, the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was chosen as the site for the fair. Its central location also played in its favor. The Building Committee hired twenty-seven year-old H. J. Schwarzmann as chief engineer. He not only planned the layout of the grounds, but also designed Memorial and Horticultural Halls, the two structures intended to be permanent. The fairgrounds were about two miles north-west from the center of Philadelphia, across the Schuylkill River in a portion of Fairmount Park. One of the world's largest municipal parks, it was devised in 1682 by the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. As he was navigating the Schuylkill River, Penn noticed a grand bluff and exclaimed, "What a faire mount!" (Klein). The natural park-like setting, and the proximity to colonial Philadelphia, created a unique atmosphere for the fair.
The form of park that came about to end this search was the amusement park, and the most well known of these amusement parks was Coney Island. The major reason this type of park was so successful was because of all it did for society. One thing it did was raise post office restrictions on the mailing of picture postcards since so many people wanted to mail family and friends to show them how much fun they were having. Coney Island was also like a safe-haven for immigrants. Here everyone was kind and there were lots of things to be done so it was a good way for the new residences of the country to experience America. This boost in immigration also gave the country a greater ethnic diversity. The fact the park had such a liberating social setting also brought about changes in fashion, and sexual expression. The rides provided the right scenes for couples to express their love for each other in public more often, and as a result this public display of affection became more accepted. The beaches also gave society a more accepting ideology to the thought of more revealing clothing.
When Hudson explored the New World, he recognized that there was a commercial potential of the geography of New York City today. It was described that the “city’s natural setting was a blessing” (Atlas, 10), which tells us that New York City was a perfect place for trading and business. As a result, this could support that the place had its commercial advantages already from the first time when the city was discovered. However, as New York City was able to become the way it is after going through many different events and developments after 1609 until the twentieth century, the characteristic of the city of New York has kept
When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feet swelter from the continuous walking, you find yourself pressing on with the yearning to discover the 'New York Experience'.