Key Takeaways:
- Park Slope sits on the western edge of Prospect Park, the 526-acre park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.
- The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket runs every Saturday at the park's main entrance.
- Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue are the main streets for food and shopping, and the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, BAM and the Barclays Center are all nearby.
Park Slope is a Brooklyn neighborhood roughly bounded by Prospect Park and Prospect Park West to the east, Fourth Avenue to the west, Flatbush Avenue to the north and the Prospect Expressway to the south. Its side streets are lined with brownstones and apartment buildings, and much of the neighborhood falls within the Park Slope Historic District.
It is a neighborhood for walking: a day in the park, a farmers market, a museum or two nearby, and two long commercial avenues full of places to eat.
Exploring Prospect Park
Activities and attractions in Prospect Park
Prospect Park was laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux for the then-independent city of Brooklyn. It covers 526 acres and is the second-largest public park in Brooklyn, after Marine Park.
The main attractions include:
- The Long Meadow, a 90-acre open lawn for picnics and pickup games.
- The Lake, Brooklyn's only lake, covering 60 acres.
- The Ravine, a wooded section with streams.
- The Boathouse, the Picnic House and Litchfield Villa.
- The Prospect Park Bandshell, which hosts outdoor concerts in summer.
Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo is inside the park. Its animals include California sea lions, red pandas, hamadryas baboons and dingoes. It is an easy stop with children.
Visit the Farmers Market at Grand Army Plaza
Grand Army Plaza sits at the main entrance to Prospect Park, at the northern tip of Park Slope. Every Saturday from 8 a.m., GrowNYC's Greenmarket program holds a popular farmers market on the plaza in front of the park. Come for seasonal produce and baked goods, then carry a picnic into the Long Meadow.
While you are there, look up at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch, which anchors the plaza, and the Bailey Fountain. The Brooklyn Central Library is across the plaza from the northeast corner of Park Slope.
Catch a show at BAM
BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is in Fort Greene, north of Park Slope, where it has operated since 1908. It is a short trip for theater, dance, music and film. Check BAM's calendar for current programs.
Attend events at the Barclays Center
The Barclays Center, at 620 Atlantic Avenue, hosts concerts and sporting events just north of Park Slope. It is served by the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway station and by the Long Island Rail Road at Atlantic Terminal. Buy tickets in advance and plan to arrive early, since the area around the arena gets crowded before events.
Learn about the Battle of Brooklyn at the Old Stone House
On August 27, 1776, the Park Slope area was the backdrop for the beginning of the Battle of Long Island, also called the Battle of Brooklyn, when British and Hessian troops routed outnumbered American forces.
The Old Stone House tells that story. The building is a reconstruction of the 1699 Vechte-Cortelyou House, which stood on the site of the fighting. Visit to learn how the battle unfolded and what it meant for the war.
Get fancy at Al Di La
Al Di La Trattoria is an Italian restaurant at 248 Fifth Avenue. It is a good choice for a sit-down dinner after a day in the park. Reserve ahead on weekends.
Caffeinate at the Hungry Ghost
Hungry Ghost Coffee has two Park Slope locations, one on Fifth Avenue and one on Seventh Avenue. Every Hungry Ghost serves Stumptown coffee roasted in Red Hook.
Get cheesy at BKLYN Larder
BKLYN Larder is a cheese and provisions shop at 228 Flatbush Avenue, on the northern edge of Park Slope. It also runs cheese clubs and classes, so ask what is coming up.
Eat bagels at Bagel Pub
Bagel Pub opened its original Park Slope location on 9th Street in 2012, serving hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels. It has a second Park Slope shop on Seventh Avenue. The 9th Street shop is near Prospect Park and the subway, and it has a backyard patio for mornings outside.
Nearby museums and gardens
Two major institutions sit just east of Park Slope, beside Prospect Park:
- The Brooklyn Museum, at 200 Eastern Parkway, is New York City's second-largest museum, with about 500,000 objects in a Beaux-Arts building designed by McKim, Mead & White.
- The Brooklyn Botanic Garden covers 52 acres next to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. Its specialty gardens include the Cranford Rose Garden, the Cherry Esplanade and the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.
Getting to Park Slope
Park Slope is well served by the subway. The F and G trains run along Ninth Street with stops at Fourth Avenue, Seventh Avenue and 15th Street–Prospect Park. The 2, 3 and 4 trains stop at Grand Army Plaza and Bergen Street, and the D, N, R and W trains serve stations along Fourth Avenue. Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center, an express station, is at the north end of the neighborhood.
From JFK or Newark, BLADE offers helicopter flights between Manhattan and both airports in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat. BLADE Downtown, at the Wall Street heliport, is the closest of BLADE's Manhattan lounges to Brooklyn. From there, continue by car or subway across the river to Park Slope.
FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near NYC's Park Slope
What are some fun things to do near NYC's Park Slope?
Spend a day in Prospect Park, visit the Prospect Park Zoo, shop the Saturday Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza, tour the Old Stone House and eat your way along Fifth and Seventh Avenues. The Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden are nearby.
Which subway lines serve Park Slope?
The F and G along Ninth Street, the 2, 3 and 4 along Flatbush Avenue, and the D, N, R and W along Fourth Avenue. The 1 train does not run in Brooklyn.
Is BAM in Park Slope?
No. BAM is in neighboring Fort Greene, a short trip north.
What animals are at the Prospect Park Zoo?
Animals at the zoo include California sea lions, red pandas, hamadryas baboons and dingoes.
What popular neighborhoods are near Park Slope?
Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Gowanus and Crown Heights are all close by.