Prospect Park in Brooklyn: 6 must-sees

May 16, 2013 1:45 PM

The great 19th-century landscape gurus Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux considered Brooklyn's Prospect Park -- not their more famous achievement, Manhattan's Central Park -- to be their best-designed urban oasis. Both parks fell into decline in the mid-20th century, and Central Park has bounced back spectacularly, notably with a recent $100 million gift. Prospect Park's comeback has been slower but steady.

Parts of it still need to be restored, but it is again a beloved, safe and well-used public space, with 10 million visits a year across its lush 585 acres. The park is literally ringed with subway lines, making public transportation an easy choice. The best bets are the F to Prospect Park; the 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza; and the B, Q to Prospect Park. Come December, look for the completion of the $74 million Lakeside project, featuring a year-round skating rink. For now, here are the park's top summertime attractions. --TED LOOS, Special to Newsday