Prospect Park Alliance recently released results of a safety study conducted on Prospect Park Drive, and those results will lead to increased space and safety for cyclists and joggers.
Prospect Park, which welcomes more than 10 million yearly visitors, features a 3.3 mile loop used by cyclists and joggers.
The study, conducted by leading traffic consultancy Sam Schwartz in partnership with NYC Parks and NYC DOT, analyzed crash data, roadway grade, pedestrian count, and other metrics to determine ways to improve the roadway, which hasn’t been repaved in over a decade and is littered with potholes.
The drive has a whole was also never fully redesigned after Prospect Park first closed to vehicular traffic in 2018.
As a result, almost 2 miles of the loop will be repaved beginning Monday, March 13, with an initial focus on the eastern portion of Park Drive from Park Circle to Grand Army Plaza.
The city is also piloting the addition of a second pedestrian lane to the outside of the loop, increasing overall space for cyclists and pedestrians, which would limit the need for crossings and therefore reduce conflicts and potential collissions. The second lane will be marked on the freshly paved path.
Following an 18-month pilot of the additional lane, the redesign will be evaluated for implementation along the full loop.
“Prospect Park hosts visitors of all kinds every day, and we’re excited to work with our partners…on reimagining the Prospect Park Drive. This park is truly Brooklyn’s backyard, and we are dedicated to creating safe and enjoyable shared spaces,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue.
Other recommendations that came from the study include roadway striping, improving safety and crosswalk visibility, and widening usable roadspace. You can review the full safety study and provide feedback on here.
The repaving process is expected to take about five weeks, and will take place during weeknight overnight hours, from 8p.m. to 4a.m., in order to minimize disruption for park goers.
“Prospect Park became such a popular haven in recent years, and so it was time we took a fresh look at making the wonderful loop drive even safer and more hospitable to pedestrians, joggers and cyclists,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.