DOT Cuts Car Access to Prospect Park, But Some Locals Object

Changes intended to control motor vehicle traffic in Prospect Park have infuriated some members of Brooklyn's Community Board 7, which includes the neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, bordering the south end of the park. The DOT is planning to close the entrance and exit to the park at Third Street in Park Slope, and also eliminate the exit-only roadway at 16th Street. For years now, locals have been divided over the issue, with some pushing for a completely car-free park, and others predicting a traffic nightmare should vehicles be pushed out into the surrounding neighborhoods. CB7 District Manager Jeremy Laufer is particularly peeved because, he says, the board was not consulted in this recent decision to reduce motor vehicle access. Laufer tells the Brooklyn Paper, "No one was contacted on this before it was a done deal." A DOT spokesperson declined to address the planning process, but says, "The changes to Prospect Park will reduce conflict between motor vehicles and neighborhood residents crossing to and from the park." As it stands now, traffic is only permitted in Prospect Park on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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By John Del Signore in News on April 15, 2009 12:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Jen S

I'm no expert, but seems counter-intuitive to allow cars into a park.

Tower18

Luckily for CB7 and Windsor Terrace residents, there's this thing called the Prospect Expressway, and then use 4th Ave if you want to get to Flatbush.

Give me a break.

flabaflaba

Hooray! Hopefully this will lead to all cars being banned from the park! As summer approaches, those of us without access to Hamptons homes or vacation dollars would like a car-free place to relax, run, bike, and play. This is a good step.

imadick

yeah, because you really need to relax weekdays 7-9am and 5-7pm when all those elite rich scumbags are scumming it with their vacation dollars.

try being reasonable. it feels good.

threesenough

If only they'd do something about the maniac bicyclists now.

Sleepy

It's a fcking park - there's enough roads to drive on outside the parks.

And if the proposal was to add more traffic, the CB would oppose that too.

fugothamist

CB7 needs to STFU

No Cars in Prospect Park.

Spirit of 76

Anyone care to guess when "thefacts" will chime in with his latest tirade against "Diktator Sadik-Khan" and her DOT gestapo?

camera_club

who the hell really wants cars driving through the park... Is there any serious argument why cars need to drive through Brooklyn's best green space!?

jibbly

The argument is that if you take away automobile access to Prospect Park during rush hours, traffic will spill over into the local neighborhood streets creating congestion, smog, and unsafe conditions for the residents in the surrounding area.

Personally I'm against cars in Prospect Park (and Central Park for that matter) and that the impact will be much less than they claim.