Prospect vs. Central Park
“I have nothing against Prospect Park. I have actually been to Prospect Park. It is, as I recall, in Brooklyn. I am sure that if I found myself near it again and had nothing better to do, I would be happy to watch the grass grow, or whatever it is people do there.” Such is…
“I have nothing against Prospect Park. I have actually been to Prospect Park. It is, as I recall, in Brooklyn. I am sure that if I found myself near it again and had nothing better to do, I would be happy to watch the grass grow, or whatever it is people do there.” Such is the opening volley in a good-natured debate this weekend in The Times over whether Prospect Park or Central Park is the king of New York City parks. “It’s widely understood among landscape architects that Central Park was a mere practice run, and Prospect Park the true masterpiece — like God making man before woman,” comes the retort. And so it goes. Which do you think is #1?
Park vs. Park [NY Times]
Image from NYC Parks
On the one hand PP is beautiful except for the trash problem in a few locations. I love that people can barbecue there. Happy, family vibe.
CP has roller skaters and such, which are cute to see the first time. But as a park, I think we take it over our neighbors to the North West.
But, on the other, CP has managed to confine it’s speeding cars and they don’t mingle with the folks trying to enjoy the park for what it is.
I don’t have the a actual figures, but my impression is they are not maintained to the same standard. The state of the paths, problem lawn patches, the historical structures, frequency with which trash cans are emptied, all generally much more tatty in PP.
tybur – is one actually permitted to BBQ, or do the staff just not enforce the rules against it?
Pink Clamm — no, it’s usually cleaner. Like Rob mentioned the Conservancy runs the place a little better. BUT the real cause is that you can barbecue in Prospect Park. That’s not allowed in CP.
PP wasn’t much to be proud of this morning.The TRASH!
I’ve only been to CP one time,so i have to ask is it as dirty as PP is on the weekends?
city owned and run parks would be much better managed and maintained if private corporations were allowed to take over and maintain/handle the operations. that is what was done with central park and is a success story and did a complete turn around.
prospect park is okay i guess but honestly when i exit it i feel grimy and gross like pigpen from peanuts. but maybe id feel that way leaving any park i dont know..
also people in central park tend to be prettier and more high class, so it gets a nod for that and edges out prospect park.
*rob*
I don’t actually think the level of maintenance is very different… CP just has a lot more “stuff.”
Maintain them the same and then let us vote.
-love ’em both- I wish PP had as big a support group/endowment to make it shine. PP is worlds better than it was 20 years ago but isn’t the polished apple CP is.
They’re two different animals… right? You can actually throw a ball around Prospect Park without hitting someone. But the number of people makes Central Park fun for other reasons… there are no roller skaters or sidewalk magicians in Brooklyn!
But honestly, if you include the land above the Reservoir… there are some awesome things up there. Waterfalls and bluffs and so on. So I’m not sure about the landscaping argument.