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November 4, 2005
Wassup with the Ballfields South of the Park?
We were playing around with the Google satellite function and flying over Prospect Park when we noticed the ball fields to the south of the park that were clearly a later addition. Does anyone know when these were built or what the impetus for them was?
Comments
Aren't those on the old Parade Grounds?
Posted by: carolyn at November 4, 2005 10:03 AM
Isn't that the Parade Grounds?
Posted by: Hal at November 4, 2005 10:03 AM
And you call yourself 'the brownstoner.' Shame. http://www.prospectpark.org/dest/main.cfm?target=para
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:08 AM
How embarrassing for you! That is the Parade Ground, scene of AYSO soccer as well as baseball. As to the ballfields, that is where Joe Torre and Willie Randolph cut their teeth. The Parade Ground is a wonderful mix, with people from all over Brooklyn utilizing them. I'm sure once your kids get a bit older, you'll be spending your weekends on the sidelines while they play soccer.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:09 AM
I was searching around on the Google satellite function and found a massive and dense conglomeration of buildings on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge. What is that area called? It looks like a city. And then, if you move further west, there appears to be another river, and then more land on the west side of that river. Further south, there appears to be some big green lady holding something in each hand. What is that?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:16 AM
Those are the Parade Grounds. My father grew up down the block from them on Stratford Rd btwn Caton and Church. It was pretty recently (last few years) that they renovated the fields and installed fake grass and re-built the diamonds. The area around the Parade Grounds like so many other neighborhoods in Bklyn used to be very nice, clean and safe. The area has improved somewhat but its nothing like it used to be.
Posted by: Sout' Bklyn Boy at November 4, 2005 10:19 AM
Stoner-
Shocked that you were not aware. Parade Grounds are absolutely a historic part of Brooklyn lore. As Anon 10:09 pointed out, they have produced some of the best ball players around. Still do in fact- there's some incredibly competitive baseball that goes on there. Also, there are great Soccer matches (ex-pats from any soccer nation getting together for a VERY organized weekend game). Beyond that, there is youth soccer, youth football, community leagues, something like 14 day and night tennis courts (bubble going up for winter as I write this) and a very well organized tennis center. The surrounding communities of Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Prospect Park South, Ditmas Park, Prospect Lefferts, etc... are really well served by the grounds. They sort of fell apart a couple of years ago, but were recently renovated to be very nice. Love the Parade Grounds.
-pk
Posted by: pk at November 4, 2005 10:22 AM
WOW that was funny!!
It's so pathetic and a little annoying how people who know so little about a place waste their time writing blogs about it.
Posted by: Sout' Brklyn Boy at November 4, 2005 10:22 AM
It is where you will spend every Saturday morning, Sunday afternoons watching games when your kids are older (and always! always! on different teams with different schedules).
Don't forget practice M/W/F!
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:30 AM
Brooklyn was new to everyone at one time or another asshole. Whether it was you or your father or your grandfather, somewhere down the line your family came here. None of us were originally from here. Besides that, it is a huge borough, I'm sure you will find people from different parts of Brooklyn that don't know or haven't been to other areas.
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at November 4, 2005 10:31 AM
Sout' Brklyn Boy,
WOW, it's a little annoying to discover that there are some real a$%holes lurking in the dark corners of the blogosphere. Take your vitriol elsewhere please.
B'stoner
Posted by: Brownstoner at November 4, 2005 10:32 AM
I think Sout' Brklyn Boy is probably just a TROLL anyway...
Posted by: anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:43 AM
my husband and pals played their 20th annual softball game there this august. afterward they did their 20th annual after-the-game BBQ and singalong(!), and, finally, after all that, my husband spent three days in bed with a busted knee.
i didn't go because i don't care for the terribly hot weather, and, until today, i didn't know exactly where the whole shebang took place. thanks for the info. oh, and BTW, brooklyn sout' - maybe you could start a blog of your own, and share you knowledge with the rest of the class. unless, of course, it's part of the info that makes your secret society so very, like, special.
Posted by: suzy at November 4, 2005 10:48 AM
What I think is funny is the following...these a&^holes jump on the pouring scorn bandwagon yet they are on the site in the first place so almost by definition must find it interesting/useful...
I had no f'ing idea where Brooklyn was 10-years ago - let alone where the Parade Grounds were - now it's the center of my life and a community that I'm dedicated to contributing to in whatever way I can...all because someone introduced me to it and let me ask questions about it and its neighborhoods..oh yeah, the same way Brownstoner is doing...
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:50 AM
It's just surprising, that's all. There has been a multitude of references to the Parade Ground in discussions on this site about neighborhoods close by (Prospect Park South, Ditmas and its neigborhoods, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, etc.). I simply thought Brownstoner would have gained knowledge about the Parade Ground before his posting this morning. Better late than never, however. I believe the Parade Ground was originally developed for, what else, parades and large gatherings, and to prevent Prospect Park from being trampled upon by large groups.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:58 AM
It's like the saying goes "If I can't ask I can't learn." I find this site very usefull,and I am most willing to cut B'stoner some slack. Untill my son started playing soccer 5 years ago I also knew nothing about the Parade Grounds.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 11:03 AM
Remember the time Brownstoner posted about Frank's, the crazy new diner he just stumbled upon?
I find his Brooklyn innocence very refreshing.
Posted by: clinton hillbilly at November 4, 2005 11:08 AM
Sout' Brooklyn Boy: To paraphrase Winston Churchill, B-stoner can make up for his small errors; you, however, will always be a d-bag.
B-stoner: I have been a Brooklyn resident for 20 years. I wasn't aware of the Parade Grounds until about a year ago.
As I've said before, you're site is a wonderful resource. Thanks for all your hard work.
Posted by: anonymous at November 4, 2005 11:25 AM
OK, know it alls. I've been to the parade grounds for soccer too, but when was it built and why is it called the Parade Grounds?
Posted by: bk newbie at November 4, 2005 11:38 AM
History...
http://www.prospectpark.org/dest/main.cfm?target=para_hist
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 11:40 AM
They underwent quite a significant renovation a few years ago when the Brooklyn Cyclones played there while their ballpark was being built. They had been pretty run-down until then - but very popular with AYSO and other organized sport leagues. I have not been there in a while. How are the renovations holding up.
PS - Go Brownstoner! We love you. I've learned so much from this Blog. It should be a two way street.
Posted by: ParkSloper at November 4, 2005 11:41 AM
The Cyclones never played at the Parade Grounds. Rudy G. proposed to build a small stadium for them until their permanent stadium was completed. At that time the fields were in bad shape but Ayso was in full swing. Part of Rudy's plan was that our kids would play soccer and baseball on what would become the parking lot for the stadium. With the help of ACORN, AYSO parents and the baseball leagues parents protested and protested went to meetings and the stadium never happened there. We proposed that if the city could spend millions to build a temporary stadium they could certainly spend millions to renew the parade grounds for our children...which they did.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 12:03 PM
The earlier poster is correct - once your kids turn 4 and if they are the least bit athletically inclined, you'll be tethered to the Parade Grounds every weekend, and wishing you bought a house in Ditmas Park! Seriously, that's how I discovered the neighborhood, seeing it from my daughter's soccer game! After a few years of schlepping to the Parade Grounds every weekend from Park Slope, it was a no brainer that when we looked for a house it would be in Ditmas Park (with a driveway). Everyone moans about oh, being near Prospect Park. Well, once your kids are in grade school, the Parade Grounds are the only part of the park you ever see and good luck walking there from PLG or PS. Incidently, Victorian Flatbush fought hard to get a permit for one of the fields on T, Th, and Sun afternoons so our kids can run free, play pick up games. We even got a grant to employ a coach. It beats the blacktop playgrounds hands down!
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 12:12 PM
It's called the Parade Grounds because groups would actually assemble there before "parading." Military types, if memory serves me...
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 12:14 PM
When Rudy wanted to build the Cyclones temporary stadium on the AYSO fields, the kids and their parents marched over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall to protest. When we got there, the police closed and locked the gates to City Hall Park. We overheard one officer telling another "this is why I became a cop -- to lock kids out of parks." The whole scene was outrageous.
Posted by: bk newbie at November 4, 2005 1:38 PM
As someone who grew up in Park Slope, I can attest to the Parade Grounds' historical remoteness for Slopies. My St. Francis Xavier little league baseball and soccer games were played on the 9th street diamonds in the park. In fact, we were the first Park Slope soccer little league team back around 1982. We played Camp Friendship and some police precinct teams. The parade gounds had the tennis courts which very few Park Slope kids ever used at the time, and dusty fields which was used for police precinct (72nd) little league baseball.
Posted by: Bkborn at November 4, 2005 1:54 PM
Hmm... Anon 3:01... I'm sure you are having fun with the whole TROLL bit, but you should probably give it a rest. We don't react very agressively to name calling here. Try craigslist. There, you can TROLL away and everyone will respond with the faux-agression and silly responses you seem to be looking for...
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at November 4, 2005 3:10 PM
Cut Brownstoner some slack!! The mean-spirited comments are uncalled for. After all, if you ask, you can learn!!
A word of advise for Sout' Brooklyn Boy:
C-H-I-L-L
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 3:15 PM
We're not sure why we're ever held up to the standard of expert as we're the first to admit it when we don't know about something. A portion of the blog is just bringing people along with us as we explore the borough. Some people get all worked up over the strangest things. Not worth losing any more energy over.
Posted by: Brownstoner at November 4, 2005 4:07 PM
i think some little brooklynite might be a tad jealous cause they know everything there is to know about the entire borough of brooklyn and all of it's history but didn't know enough to buy something 5-10-20 years ago?? hmmmm just a thought... thank god though you knew about the parade grounds- you should start a blog "why wasn't i smart enough to buy something when i could have afforded it..." don't beat yourself up too bad.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 4:07 PM
Interestingly, the last two mean-spirited comments (which we've deleted) were not from the same IP address as Brooklyn Boy, suggesting there was more than one Brownstoner basher in the crowd today. Ah well, think we'll survive.
Posted by: Brownstoner at November 4, 2005 4:08 PM
TROLL, TROLL, TROLL. Brownstoner learned something about Brooklyn today, not only geoghraphically, but also about the sh*theads who dog on him for not knowing EVERYTHING. In fact, not knowing everything about Brooklyn makes him more proletariat and less elistist. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 4:10 PM
Nothing like the absolute power of the SYSOP to keep a board positive and on topic. :)
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at November 4, 2005 4:11 PM
He's found out by now dat he'll never live long enought to know duh whole of Brooklyn. It'd take a guy a lifetime to know Brooklyn t'roo an' t'roo. An even den, yuh wouldn't know it all.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 4:52 PM
Brownstoner... Why are you deleting comments that make you look like the ass you are for posting this question????
Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 7:43 PM
ahhh... the parade grounds, I used to live right in front of there on the corner of Marlborough and Caton and I loved it over there its like two different worlds if you walk from Caton where the parade grounds are to the rustle and bustle of church ave on the other side. I remember last winter when there was a snow storm and my roommate and I were in the middle of the parade grounds making ill snow angels, man o man I miss my old neighborhood...
as far as b'stoner not knowing about the parade grounds, so what? is he supposed to know everything? anyway, b'stoner you should check it out over there sometimes... they're always playing soccer over there on the weekends its a whole event over there.
Posted by: stuy blkbuttrflie at November 4, 2005 9:37 PM
I stand corrected - the Cyclones never did play in the Parade Grounds. I feel like such a loser.
Extra credit - where did they play while they were waiting for KeySpan Park to finish?
Posted by: ParkSloper at November 4, 2005 9:44 PM
There is an excellent article (looong article) on the fight over the Parade Grounds (ACORN sold out, surprise surprise) by Field of Schemes author Neil DeMause. the article, The Battle of Brooklyn is here: http://heremagazine.com/battleofbrooklyn.html
Posted by: ratnerville at November 5, 2005 1:04 AM
CYCLONES--I think they played on the campus of St. John's University on Utopia Pkwy in Queens. But then again that may have been the minor league Staten I. team.
I could be wrong...
Posted by: carolyn at November 5, 2005 8:11 AM
We only deleted comments that were abusively (and purposefully) rude, not the ones that expressed surprise or said we should know better...There's no room for jerks on the site and no first amendment rights for that matter. As we've said before, we welcome difference of opinion and disagreement, but people should express those views as if they were guests in our house. If a basic level of courtesy is not being observed, we're gonna kick them out. As you've seen, one bad apple can sour a whole thread.
Posted by: Brownstoner at November 5, 2005 10:03 AM
I owned a coop in a building on the Parade Grounds for two years. It's a lovely spot. Very quiet. Fun to watch the tiny kids play soccer on the weekends. Lots of parking. I miss the parking. Sigh.
The rehab of the grounds was just getting started when we bought. Needless to say, we made a very good investment.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 5, 2005 10:25 AM
The tennis courts at the Parade Grounds are some of the best in the city. They're well-maintained and the teaching pro staff is excellent. In the summer, you use a city parks permit or single-play ticket . In the winter, there's a bubble and the hourly rates are very reasonble (for NYC). And the previous comment is right-on about the parking.
Posted by: T. at November 5, 2005 1:46 PM
I think those were the tennis courts featured in "the squid and the whale", and so clearly were always a park sloper's resource :)
Posted by: OE at November 5, 2005 3:00 PM
This is like the guy in the Squid and the Whale who asks, "Across the park? Is that still Brooklyn?" Believe it or not, you can walk east and/or south out of Prospect Park and encounter: restaurants! stores! people! and, the Parade Grounds. There's also a cemetery thereabouts.
Posted by: Ken at November 7, 2005 11:23 AM
Ken, it is nothing like the bloke in the Squid and the Whale. Bstoner is not that insular or elitist and if that is not obvious to you then you are not that bright.
I have learnt something new today and I would not have done had not bstoner posted the question in the first place.
Posted by: VDH at November 7, 2005 1:14 PM
Sandy Koufax started his career where these fields are.
Posted by: Tom at November 7, 2005 6:14 PM
Anyone who played baseball knows that those diamonds are the "Parade Grounds". If you are a ballplayer, you either are a "Bonnie", "Youth Service", "Parkville" "Gil Hodges" or "Ty Cobbs", let me not forget the "Cadets" and a myriad of top notch CYO and American Legion teams.
The renovation of those fields (in my own opinion) parallels the revitalization of the boroughs.
The "old school" and "not so old school" folks will wax nostalgic about these fields. For a park to be surrounded by the Victorian homes of Ditmas Park,the tenements of lower Flatbush, the beauty of Prospect Park, and the brownstones of Windsor Terrace, these fields are in the center of the "melting pot" that is Brooklyn.
So without being too longwinded, these are the NEW Parade Grounds... love em !!
Posted by: Lawrence at November 8, 2005 12:17 PM
Well said, Lawrence.
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