Prospect Park

Transportation Alternatives wants cars out of Prospect Park as much as Central Park, and we're working on it. But a number of obstacles make getting cars out of Brooklyn's beloved Park difficult

Many more Brooklynites drive than Manhattanites. Only 23% of Manhattan households own cars, whereas 44% of Brooklyn households do. Not surprisingly, Howard Golden, the Brooklyn Borough President is lukewarm about increasing Prospect Park's car?free hours whereas Ruth Messinger, the Manhattan Borough President is clear about her desire to ban cars from Central Park. Her support was crucial in securing the recent extension of Central Parks summer hours.

Unfortunately, Golden's office seems to rely for advice on ardent motorist Tupper Thomas, Prospect Park's Administrator. Thomas contends that cars need to use the Park, and that they make the Park safer. Worse yet she considers motorists as Park users comparable to walkers, cyclists and skaters, and believes that one of the Parks roles is to provide attractive scenery for them.

On the bright side, the Borough President's office reports a steady stream of letters from Brooklynites demanding an extension of summer hours and a completely car?free Park. Chances are good for a commitment to year?round summer hours. Write now. A postcard that says, "I vote and I want year round summer hours" would do nicely.

Write: Howard Golden
Brooklyn Borough President,
Borough Hall,
Brooklyn, NY 10201

Howard Stem
Parks Commissioner
The Arsenal, 830 Fifth Ave.
NYC 10021

Elliot Sander,
Commissioner, NYC DOT,
40 Worth St. NYC 10013

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