Community input sought for Prospect Park project

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - For many years, the rose garden in Prospect Park has been a place of enjoyment for Brooklynites. And now Prospect Park Alliance wants to bring new life to the loved area.

"Our impetus is to be able to open this up, to make it feel safer and more accessible to people, and to be able to accommodate more visitors." Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue says.

The park alliance is asking for the public's help.

"We would love to bring the community in to help us determine what should be here. What does the community think is missing in this great park of ours and what they would like to see happen?" Donoghue says. "So, on June 10th we are hosting a community input session at our boathouse here in the park and asking our community to join us in giving us ideas on how this should be renovated and restored."

Some folks have ideas on how to spruce things up. One park-goer wants lectures and concerts held there. Another said the possibilities are endless and suggested trapeze lessons.

The project is part of a renovation of the northeast quadrant of the park. Last year, goats were brought in to help restore woodlands damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

In the 1960s, a series of fountains were placed in the area for a short period of time. But since then, it has remained relatively quiet with just the maintenance of the lawn areas. This summer, though, that will change with a new art installation.

"The project involves people helping us create pinwheels, works of art whereby they'll tell us what do they love about the park and how is the park meaningful," Donoghue says. "They'll be able to put those designs on our website and then from those designs we'll be making beautiful pinwheels that will form a public art project here in the park."

You can find out how to be part of these park projects at prospectpark.org.