The City Council is currently considering legislation that would finally eliminate automobiles from Prospect Park and Central Park (the transverse roads in that park would remain open to traffic). There have been numerous efforts over the years to return the parks to purely recreational purposes, and the amount of time motorists can use the parks has been whittled down to just a few hours on weekdays. The momentum seems to be growing for a full-on car ban, but here comes Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to stomp on the brakes.
“In many respects, the goal of having a car-free Prospect Park is a laudable one," Markowitz said in a statement. "However, as the borough president I must represent all Brooklyn residents, including those who drive through Prospect Park as well as those who reside near the park that may be negatively impacted by additional restrictions. Currently, the only time the Park Drive is open to motorists is on weekdays, northbound from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and southbound from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
"This schedule was decided on jointly by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, the Brooklyn City Council delegation, Prospect Park Alliance, the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Police Department. I agree with Mayor Bloomberg in opposing changes proposed under this new bill, and believe the existing limited access for automobiles in Prospect Park sufficiently balances the needs of all users."
Asked what he thought of Markowitz's stance, Noah Budnick at Transportation Alternatives told us, "Prospect Park and Central Park are New Yorker's backyard. Just like someone with a house, we don't want highways driving through our yards!"
