The year 2007 may prove to be one of the most important years in the storied history of New York City's development. In a future timeline of urban advances, it might be printed in as big a font and as bold a type as 1811--when the grid system was adopted--or 1904--when the I.R.T. subway opened. The text adjacent to 2007 could say something like "the start of livable streets," or "the bike boom begins," or "congestion pricing kicks off." It may turn out that all of those descriptions may suit 2007. The real question is, in hindsight, will they?

The more time cars have to traverse Prospect Park, the less it resembles an urban sanctuary, advocates of fewer cars in the park said this week.

In a series of letters to this newspaper, local residents; many of whom are members of Transportation Alternatives, a pedestrian and cyclist advocacy group, railed against the Department of Transportation's (DOT) decision to extend holiday hours, allowing automobiles access 24 hours a day to motorists, Monday through Friday and excluding holidays, through December.

The Sam Schwartz Company
611 Broadway Suite 415
New York, NY 10012
212-598-9010

I am a registered professional engineer, a life long resident of Brooklyn and have lived near Prospect Park, on three different sides, for nearly 30 years. I currently live on the Flatbush side of the park.

Dear Commissioner Weinshall,

We call for a car-free Prospect Park.

We include New York City's major environmental, transportation and civic organizations and three former commissioners of the Department of Transportation. Given Brooklyn's scarcity of parkland, and the intensive use of Prospect Park, we feel very strongly that making Prospect Park car-free would be a major step forward for Brooklyn, its quality of life and environment. Indeed, there are few things that would provide such a big boon for Brooklyn, at so little cost.

Safety: TA's report Dangerous By Design (PDF)

NYC Councilmember Stephen DiBrienza, backed by Councilmembers Ken Fisher, Una Clarke and Angel Rodriguez, calls for a two-month trial closing of Prospect Park starting in July

What:Press Conference
When:Noon, Monday, April 13, 1998
Where:Bartel Pritchard Square - Prospect Park West at 15th St, Brooklyn

What: Public Hearing
When: 6:00 PM, Tuesday, April 21,
Where: Brooklyn Borough Hall.

GREAT VISUAL - Families and pets will picnic along side of speeding cars.

What: Protest/Picnic
When: Wednesday, July 1- 5:30-6:30 PM
Where: Grassy triangle inside Grand Army plaza entrance, Prospect Park

Demonstration for a Car-Free Prospect Park
Friday, April 23rd, 1999
5:30 - 7pm at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, just inside Prospect Park.

Hundreds of Brooklynites and Prospect Park lovers armed with potted plants and banners will erect a green barricade across the Park's Grand Army Plaza entrance. Participants will call on the city to follow through on the long-ignored demand for a three-month trial closure of the park to cars.