Major Restoration of The Vale in Prospect Park

Rendering Courtesy of Prospect Park Alliance.

$37.5 million project will transform Prospect Park’s northeast corner as a restored space for nature, quiet reflection, and intergenerational play 

The restoration of the Vale, in the northeast corner of Prospect Park was announced. Funded by the Office of the Mayor, this $37.5 million, 8-acre project is the single largest capital allocation to Prospect Park since the Lakeside project in 2010. This project is the result of an extensive outreach and design process that engaged thousands of local community members over several years. The Prospect Park Alliance’s award-winning team of architects and landscape architects have designed a space for nature exploration, intergenerational gathering, and quiet reflection.

The Vale restoration, the first in more than 50 years, transforms two key landscapes: the historic Children’s Pool (a decorative water feature), a former Rose Garden. The project will also include an additional 3 acres of woodland restoration that will continue an important pollinator corridor across the park. This work is supported by a $300,000, three-year New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Community Reforestation grant. 

The restoration of the Children’s Pool will bring back historic details while improving wildlife habitat through new plantings and bird-friendly features. The former Rose Garden, which features three disused concrete basins, will be transformed into three connected landscapes that respect the park’s historic design while restoring the woodland landscape. The project will also add new amenities to the former Rose Garden, including: a pollinator garden and planted arbor; a children’s nature exploration area; a picnicking lawn; a small pavilion with composting restrooms and a shaded viewing terrace. 

The restoration of the Vale is expected to be completed in 2027. This project is the centerpiece of several capital improvements that have been achieved in recent years in this corner of the park. This includes the Flatbush Avenue Perimeter restoration with the creation of two new entrances to this area of the park, the first new entrances since the 1940s; the restoration of surrounding woodland areas severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy and other recent storms; the restoration of the pathways and lighting to the area; the award-winning restoration of Endale Arch; and the award-winning restoration of the Grand Army Plaza Berms and Memorial Arch. 

The Vale restoration project surpasses the City’s goals for minority-owned and women-owned businesses and enterprises (M/WBEs) with a construction team that is 35% M/WBEs. 

Background on the Vale Restoration 

The Prospect Park Vale was originally designed as a Children’s Playground and home to the park’s first carousel. At the turn of the 20th century, it became a formal rose garden. In the late 1960’s, after decades of decline, the City removed the flower beds and attempted to restore the fountains, which quickly became nonfunctional. Today, Alliance and Parks staff maintain the area, and restoration will improve its accessibility, infrastructure and habitat value. 

In 2017, the Alliance launched intensive community outreach to create a vision for the Vale. Since this landscape changed several times over its history, it was not beholden to landmark regulations at the same level as areas of the park that still retain their original design. This process engaged more than 2,000 community members and generated more than 3,000 ideas. This outreach identified the primary desires of the community: to preserve and enhance the woodland nature of this area of the park; provide a space for all ages to come together for reflection and passive activities, such as nature appreciation or the arts; and to improve the space to make it more accessible and functional. In 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $40 million in city funding to realize plans for the Vale. 

The Upper Vale, the former rose garden, features three interconnected landscapes: 

• Pollinator Meadow: At the south end of the Vale, a pollinator meadow features insect and bird-friendly species such as Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea pallida). An accessible pathway leads to an arbor planted with Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) for shade and beauty, and features a viewing area with a leaning rail. Historic benches line the rear of the arbor, along with companion seating for those in wheelchairs. Subtle fencing protects the meadow and surrounding woodland areas, which serve as wildlife habitat. 

• Nature Exploration Area: In the center of the Vale, a nature-based play area is defined by additional pollinator plantings and native trees and shrubs that provide habitat for birds and insects. The shrubs are thickly planted to serve as a natural border, separating the wooded edges from the primary play spaces, which include: a variety of tree stumps, logs, and boulders configured for walking, jumping, balancing, sitting and playing; an accessible hand pump; and a sand area for children of all ages and abilities. Accessible seating is dotted along the edges of the play area with a central, native red maple tree to provide shade.  

• Picnic Lawn and Northeast Pavilion: At the north end of the Vale, the landscape opens to a picnic lawn and small pavilion. A mix of native oaks frame the open lawn, creating an inviting, shady and flexible open space. The perimeter is lined with historic benches and companion seating, and includes a new drinking fountain. The pavilion is built into the hillside at the northern end of the site, with a green roof that becomes an extension of the pollinator meadow. The pavilion is LEED Silver certified and constructed of stone and wood finishes that are evocative of the park, with bird-friendly fritted windows. The ground floor, accessible from the lawn, features 8 all-gender composting restroom stalls, 2 of which are ADA accessible, which are similar to those found at the Wellhouse at the park’s Peninsula and avoid draining into the city’s sewer system. In addition, a grey water garden recycles sink water to reduce waste. An upper-level terrace provides shaded seating to enjoy the views of the landscape.   

The Lower Vale is the site of the historic Children’s Pool. Dating back to the park’s creation in the mid-1800s, the Children’s Pool features historic design and also is a habitat for birds and other wildlife. Its design features several layers of history: the original Olmsted and Vaux design; McKim, Mead and White updates that introduced formal elements including a marble balustrade; and additional changes made during the WPA era in the 1930s. The restoration restores the pool’s shoreline and historic architectural elements; replaces invasive plants that have overgrown the area with new native species; makes pathways ADA accessible; and installs discreet bubblers to circulate the water and prevent stagnation. The restoration will also add bird-friendly features, including bird baths just below the water’s surface, along with aquatic plantings and mudflats. The landscape is surrounded by woodland areas that were restored in recent years after being devastated by severe storms including Hurricane Sandy. 

About NYC Parks 

NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 65 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 666,000 street trees, and five million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. 

About NYCEDC    

New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the City’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.    

About Prospect Park Alliance 

Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. Learn more at www.prospectpark.org.