New York is providing $4 million toward the final restoration of Prospect Park Lake restoration in Brooklyn, a project designed to improve public access, water quality, flood resilience and wildlife habitat. The new state support is part of a $25 million restoration effort for Brooklyn’s only freshwater lake, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The announcement, made Sept. 24, comes as New York continues to invest in parks and green infrastructure that can serve both recreational and environmental needs. While the project is centered in Brooklyn, the work highlights a broader issue facing communities across New York: aging public spaces must increasingly be designed to handle heavier rainfall, flooding and accessibility needs.
This investment marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts for the Prospect Park Lake restoration, ensuring that both the environment and community needs are met.
What the $4 million will support
The funding will help complete the final phases of the Lakeshore Restoration Master Plan at Prospect Park. State officials say the work will make areas around the lake safer and more accessible while addressing runoff and stormwater problems.
- Improve ADA access to the lake for visitors with disabilities.
- Improve water quality and shoreline conditions.
- Reduce flooding and stormwater impacts.
- Reconstruct portions of the bridle trail.
- Replace extensive asphalt with rain gardens.
- Add stormwater-management infrastructure, site furniture and dark-sky-friendly lighting.
- Protect habitat used by fish, amphibians and birds.
The state says the project will reduce roadway pavement near the lake along Wellhouse Drive and capture runoff from surrounding hills. Rain gardens are expected to help absorb water while reflecting elements of the park’s historic horticultural design.
A 60-acre lake in a 526-acre park
Prospect Park covers 526 acres and includes wetlands, wooded areas and recreational facilities. Its 60-acre lake is Brooklyn’s only freshwater lake. The park also contains a zoo, an Audubon Center, a skating rink, a bandshell, a carousel and athletic facilities.
The lake is more than a scenic feature. Green spaces can help manage stormwater by giving rainfall places to collect and soak into the ground rather than moving quickly across pavement into streets and drainage systems. The restoration is intended to strengthen that role while improving the experience for people using the park.
Officials emphasize access and resilience
“Prospect Park is a natural wonderland in the heart of Brooklyn and I am proud to support its continued restoration,” Hochul said in announcing the funding. She said the shoreline work would improve water quality, natural resilience and safe access while providing refuge for wildlife.
Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco said the lake plays “a critical role in environmental resiliency” and said the restoration is intended to make the park better able to withstand more frequent severe storms.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie called Prospect Park “Brooklyn’s backyard” and said the improvements would help keep the lake accessible, clean and safe for future generations.
Why stormwater improvements matter
One of the project’s central goals is to address stormwater problems that have affected surrounding areas during major storms. Paved surfaces can move water rapidly into low-lying locations. Green infrastructure, including rain gardens and planted areas, can slow runoff and allow more water to be absorbed.
The restoration is also designed to reduce pavement near the lake. That approach can provide environmental benefits without removing the park’s role as a public gathering place.
Accessibility is part of the plan
The state says the project will include ADA-accessible improvements around the lake. That matters because major park renovations are not only about preserving landscapes. They also determine who can safely use public spaces.
Supporters say improving pathways and access points can make the lake more usable for older adults, people with disabilities and families using strollers or mobility devices.
A statewide lesson from a Brooklyn project
For Central New York readers, Prospect Park may be hundreds of miles away, but the basic challenges are familiar. Communities throughout the state are dealing with aging infrastructure, intense rain events, erosion and the need to make parks accessible to more residents.
The project offers an example of combining recreation spending with environmental improvements instead of treating the two as separate goals. Similar principles can apply to neighborhood parks, trails, waterfronts and municipal green spaces in communities of many sizes.
The Prospect Park investment also complements the governor’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which encourages children and families to spend more time outdoors and away from screens.
What happens next
The $4 million is additional state funding toward the $25 million overall restoration. The project is intended to complete the remaining phases of the lakeshore master plan, including shoreline, trail, stormwater and accessibility work.
Residents interested in how New York spends environmental and recreation dollars can follow state funding announcements and local capital plans. Projects like this show how park investments can address several public needs at once: recreation, accessibility, habitat protection and resilience to severe weather.
Source: Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sept. 24, 2026.
