PROSPECTPARK'SHIDDENROSEGARDENProspectParkAllianceEngagesCommunityinFutureofHiddenGeminPark'sNortheastCornerPublicCanShareLoveofProspectParkinCommunityArtInstallationOpenCallLaunchingJune1+SharetheirVisionatJune10CommunityDesignWorkshop

BROOKLYN,May24,2017–IntimingwithProspectPark's150thanniversary,ProspectParkAlliance—thenon-profitorganizationthatsustainsthePark—announcedthelaunchofitsrestorationplansforoneofthePark'shiddengems,aformerRoseGardeninthePark'snortheastcorner.Thefirstphaseoftheprocessistoengagethepublicinthefuturevisionforthislandscape,includingaJune1opencallforanimmersiveartinstallation,TheConnectiveProject,conceivedbyAREA4andReddymadeArchitecture+Design,whichinvitesthepublictosubmitphotos,artwork,proseorverseinspiredbytheirloveofthePark;andaJune10communitydesignworkshopledbyHesterStreetCollaborative.ThepubliccanRSVPfortheJune10communitydesignworkshopatprospectpark.org/reimagine,andsubmittheirphotos,artwork,proseorversestartingJune1forthecommunityartinstallationatprospectpark.org/CP150."Sinceitsfounding,ProspectParkAlliancehasbeenfocusedonrenewingtheParkfortheenjoymentofallofBrooklyn,"saidSueDonoghue,presidentofProspectParkAlliance."Throughtheseinnovativecommunityengagementinitiatives,wearelookingtoinvolveallofthediversecommunitiesthatconsiderthePark'Brooklyn'sBackyard'inthefuturevisionofthiscornerofthePark,oneofthefewremaininglandscapesuntouchedbyrestoration."

RoseGardenRestorationProspectParkAllianceisworkingwithHesterStreetCollaborative,anon-profitorganizationfocusedonimprovingthephysicalenvironmentinunderservedNYCneighborhoods(andcurrentlyworkingontheCity'sculturalplan),toengagethecommunityinthefuturevisionfortheRoseGarden—thefirststepintheAlliance'splanstorestorethislandscapeinthePark'snortheastcorner.TheAllianceislookingtogatherinputfromawidevarietyofcommunitiesthatbordertheParkandusetheParkregularly.Overthecourseofthesummerandfall,theAllianceandHesterStreetCollaborativewillbereachingouttothecommunityinavarietyofsettingstohelpdeterminethefuturedesignofthisspace.Tokickoffthecommunityengagementprocess,ProspectParkAllianceandHesterStreetCollaborativearehostingaCommunityDesignWorkshoponJune10.FormoreinformationandtoRSVP,visitprospectpark.org/reimagine.TheConnectiveProjectTheConnectiveProjectisanimmersiveartinstallationcreatedfromthousandsofpinwheelstocreateanevolving,undulatingwaveofcolorandbeautythatblanketsthetwo-and-halfacreRoseGardenfromJuly7-17,2017.OnJune1,theAlliancewilllaunchanopencallforsubmissionsfromthepublictoshareartwork,photos,verseorprosethatexpressestheirloveofProspectPark.Allsubmissionswillbefeaturedonanonlinegallery,whileselectpieceswillbeprintedandtransformedintooneof7,000pinwheelsthatwillbeshowcasedintheParkandconstructedofweather-resistantbiodegradablepapermadefromstonedust.Thepubliccanlearnmoreabouttheproject,andsubmittheirworkatprospectpark.org/CP150.ThedesignerSuchiReddyofReddymadeArchitecture+Designdesignedaninstallationthatwouldengagethepublicinadialogueabouttheimportanceofpublicspace,butalsogeneratewonderandplay.Fullofcolorandwhimsy,TheConnectiveProjectisanodtothecreativespiritthatpervadesBrooklynandReddy’spractice.Theengagementwiththecommunitybeganwithanopencalltoemergingartists,curatedbytheBrooklynCounciloftheArts,theBrooklynMuseum,BRICArts&Media,PIONEERWORKS,MoCADA,andRussellSimmons’RushPhilanthropicArtsFoundation.TheConnectiveProjectisfundedinpartbyBloombergPhilanthropies,withadditionalsupportfromNewYork-PresbyterianBrooklynMethodistHospitalandTesla,Inc.AbouttheRoseGardenOriginallythe“Children’sPlayground,”theRoseGarden,a2.5-acrelandscapeinthenortheastcornerofthePark,featuredparallelbars,swings,andseesawswithacroquetlawnandmaze.ItalsowashometothePark’sfirst,horse-poweredcarousel.DuringtheCityBeautifulMovementinthelate1800s,theprestigiousfirmofMcKim,MeadandWhitetransformedthelandscapeintoaRoseGardenwiththreelilyponds,whichwasapopularattractionbeforethecreationoftheBrooklynBotanicGarden.Overtime,likemostofProspectParkpriortothefoundingofProspectParkAlliance,thisareabecameneglected,andtheroses,longgone.

Today,ProspectParkAlliancemaintainsthelandscapewiththehelpofitslandscapecrewsandvolunteers.Itisalsothefocusofthenon-profit'snextmajorrestorationeffortsinthe26acresthatcomprisethePark'snortheastcorner.Thisspring,theAllianceiscontinuingworkonrestoringwoodlandsintheValeofCashmere,alushlandscapeadjacenttotheRoseGarden.ThroughagrantfromtheNationalParksService,administeredbytheNewYorkStateOfficeofParks,RecreationandHistoricPreservation,theAllianceisusinggoatsasanenvironmentallyfriendlywaytoremoveinvasiveweedspriortoplantingnewtrees.TheAlliancewillalsoconducthistoricrestorationworkonanexistingpool.Inaddition,throughfundingfromBrooklynBoroughPresidentEricL.AdamsandCouncilMemberLaurieCumbo,theAllianceisinthedesignphaseofrestoringtheFlatbushAvenueperimeterfromGrandArmyPlazatoOceanAvenue,withbroadenedsidewalks,newtreesandstreetfurniture.ThroughtheCity'sParksWithoutBordersInitiative,theAlliancewillalsocreatetwonewentrancesonFlatbushAvenue,andimprovetheentranceonFlatbushAvenueatEmpireBoulevard.AboutProspectParkAllianceProspectParkAllianceisthenon-profitorganizationthatsustains,restoresandadvancesProspectPark,Brooklyn'sBackyard,inpartnershipwiththeCity.TheAllianceprovidesamajorityofthestaffandresourcesthatkeeptheParkgreenandvibrantforthediversecommunitiesthatcallBrooklynhome.Learnmoreatwww.prospectpark.org.

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