Discovering Brooklyn: Prospect Heights – Part 1

During the month of July, we celebrated the first anniversary of our “Discovering Brooklyn Monthly Series.” In one year we enthusiastically journeyed from Greenpoint in Northern Brooklyn to Park Slope in North-Central Brooklyn, stopping in all of the wonderful neighborhoods in-between. Our second year begins in the small and culturally diverse neighborhood of Prospect Heights.

Prospect Heights geographically has Fort Greene and Clinton Hill above it, Crown Heights to its right, Park Slope to its left, and below it is beautiful Prospect Park. According to City-Data, the population of Prospect Heights is 16,300 and residents are predominately Black and Hispanic with a median household income of $89,917.

Most interesting, the percentage of males living in Prospect Heights and working in the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations is a whopping 20.4% and the percentage of females in the same fields is 13.8; whereas the percentage for all of New York for males and females in those fields – is only about 3.0 and 2.8 respectively.

Not only are the residents employed in art and design – important arts and cultural institutions live in this rich neighborhood. The Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza, and the Botanic Garden all reside here.

Take the Number 2 or 3 train to the Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum stop as we will begin our tour there. The Brooklyn Museum’s roots date back to 1823 as the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library. Its first permanent home was located in Brooklyn Heights on Henry and Cranberry Streets. By 1848, the Library was known as the Brooklyn Institute. In its second downtown location, (today Cadman Plaza) it also took on a new role as an evening school with continuing education for men and women.

Reorganized in 1897 to meet the needs of an expanding and vibrant Brooklyn community, the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences moved into its current location at 200 Eastern Parkway right near Prospect Park. Today, the Brooklyn Museum is a world-class institute known for its exquisite Egyptian collection, fantastic period rooms and awe-inspiring exhibitions: Killer Heels, The Rise of Sneaker Culture, KAWS, and Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks, to name a few. Plan to visit this Brooklyn treasure today. “Brooklyn attractions and cultural institutions drew 15 million visitors in 2010,” says a New York Daily News article dated January 6, 2011. OurBKSocial always knew Brooklyn is the place to be. For more information on current exhibitions visit Brooklynmuseum.org.

Walk down Eastern Parkway to Washington Avenue. The main entrance to The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is located at 1000 Washington Avenue. Believe it or not, the Botanic Garden sits on a former ash dump. An ash dump is simply a holding area for the byproduct of burned wood or coal. Old houses originally were heated with wood; by the 1850s, buildings were converting to coal. The accumulated ashes needed to be dumped somewhere. But Brooklyn was growing rapidly and Prospect Park was drawing crowds. The dump had to go!

By 1897 the New York State legislation had reserved those 39 acres for a botanic garden. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden was officially founded in 1910. Its mission “is to connect people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.”Quick, safe and effective treatments are available with null side effects on your body with Unani treatment against erectile dysfunction can opt for Kamagra UK as a result of an increase in the number of men with erectile dysfunction is low for those under the age of forty five with significant risk factors should have check out this store viagra without prescription yearly tests as well.

Not only can you regularly visit this wonderland and experience plants in bloom, you can schedule a tour and see what’s blossoming and budding. Interested in having your wedding or a family celebration surrounded by enchantment? The Palm House or the Atrium are great choices. Want to learn how to arrange flowers or how to make the most of your herb garden? Is your child ready to learn the wonders of gardening? The Brooklyn Botanic Garden workshops and classes have you covered.

In keeping with its mission to inspire an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment, the “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” is now in its 21st year. This awesome contest is a project of GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Borough President Eric L. Adams. The contest motivates residents to work together to beautify their neighborhood; and showcases the greenest most beautiful winning block. For more information on Brooklyn’s Botanic Garden visit Bbg.org.

Exit the Garden on Eastern Parkway and walk to 10 Grand Army Plaza to the Brooklyn Public Library. According to its website, approximately one million people walk through the Central Library yearly. It contains over one million cataloged books, magazines, and multimedia materials. In addition, its Brooklyn Collection preserves and safeguards historic photographs, maps, manuscripts, and more.

On February 1, 1941 the Children’s Room and Central Circulation Room opened briefly to the public. By February 3rd of the same year, the library was open for business. The Central Library has always provided a host of great services. One that especially stands out was the special space it designated for letter writing to servicemen during World War II. In the 1940s the library encouraged folks to write letters to their family members and sweethearts. They were provided with a quiet area to think and compose, paper, literary inspiration and even a mail box. How cool was that! Like Biggie says,”Spread Love, it’s the Brooklyn Way.”

Before entering, stand in front of the library and just look. Notice that the building resembles an open book. Walk around the building and read the inscriptions. Finally, go inside and lose yourself in words. For more information on the library visit Bklynlibrary.org.

Check us out later this month for Part 2 of Discovering Brooklyn: Prospect Heights and Prospect Park. Be one of the first to comment on this article for a chance to win Prospect Heights themed prizes…