Calling all parents and caregivers with children Join a Prospect Park Alliance Naturalist at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for a leisurely stroll along Prospect Park’s waterways Embrace the sound of streams and songs of birds Enjoy fragrant flowers and explore the towering trees of Brooklyn’s Backyard Please note that this walk leaves promptly at 10 am from the Prospect Park Audubon Center Prospect Park Stroller Walks are held on Thursdays from April–May from 10 am–12 pm RSVP to reserve your spot: Please check your email prior to the event for changes, updates and to confirm the walk has met a minimum participant requirement. Prospect Park is the property of the City of New York and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks & Recreation. It is managed in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance. © Prospect Park Alliance. All rights reserved. Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations Prospect Park Alliance arborist Malcolm Gore counted the rings on a tree stump at the top of a hill in Prospect Park Counting tree rings for age isn’t entirely accurate But he estimated the tree that stood there just hours earlier on Monday was around 100 years old It was originally one of nine massive American elms that made up the Dog Beach Elm Grove — a popular spot named after a nearby dog-swimming area The tree died after being infected by Dutch elm disease High foot traffic and a drought last fall added to the elm's stress Lots of folks have stopped today and said that this is like a magical place where they've had ceremonies and parties and things like that,” Gore said but all that foot traffic adds up to compaction and erosion which basically hurts the trees’ ability to take up nutrients and water from the ground.” Two other trees in the grove have also died He estimates they're about 75 to 100 years old as well It’s a harsh reality after the Prospect Park Alliance worked for months to save the trees — doing everything from inoculating them against the fungus creating a fenced perimeter and using fertilizer “I've put a lot of work into this grove and we lost [three] this spring but it's part of the job also — you kind of The Dog Beach Elm Grove is the largest grouping of the trees in Prospect Park, Gore said. Typically, Prospect Park Alliance arborists try to catch Dutch elm disease early and prune infected wood before the disease reaches a tree’s roots. But, the Alliance says, some trees are beyond healing. When elms have to be taken down, they’re replaced with new plantings. Gore said removing the three threes at the Dog Beach Elm Grove will also prevent dead limbs from potentially falling on anyone walking through it. He spent Monday explaining the commotion to passersby like Bryan Wachtel, who was walking his dog, Hazel. “So I know that this is the park's little collection right here, so it’s sad to be losing so many," Wachtel said. Visual artist Shelley Krapes-Mackinnon said she’s been visiting the trees for years. On Monday she sat down on a nearby bench to sketch the remaining trees. “It’s the limbs of the trees that are so compelling, the arms and the free-flowing lines,” she said. “It’s really a sight, it’s a composition and it's beautiful.” Gore said the fence will remain in place for at least a year to help the soil recover and hopefully preserve the health of the six trees that will remain. New York City’s subways aren’t run by City Hall. Should that change? A “prolonged stretch of unsettled” conditions will keep things wet, the National Weather Service says. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Gothamist is a website about New York City news Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardDriver allegedly rage poops on car is being investigated by Prospect Park police A motorist allegedly involved in a roadway dispute in Delaware County Wednesday could not let it mellow and instead rear-ended the other driver — not with her car but with her bare buttocks — before dumping her frustrations onto the hood of the other vehicle I didn’t think the footage — which was taken from the vantage point of someone in a third car watching it all go down — was real Who would do such a thing in broad daylight with cameras everywhere these days How does someone have a load like that at the ready And why did the offending motorist look so happy getting back into her car I couldn’t wipe the incident out of my head Thursday and so I called Prospect Park Police Chief David Madonna to see if he was privy to the situation since multiple people posted it happened within his jurisdiction Madonna confirmed the incident occurred around 4 p.m Wednesday at the intersection of 4th and Madison Avenues in a residential area of the borough He said both the assailant and victim are Delco residents and the incident happened as a result of road rage someone wasn’t moving fast enough so the other person cut them off and words were exchanged and here we are,” he said but having a potty on someone else’s car is an entirely different animal If that’s what urineto behind closed doors but it’s a really crappy way to act in public it’s unclear if the alleged doo-dooer will feces charges Madonna said his department is conducting a thorough investigation It has Easter flower sales outside the local gentleman’s club Am I glad that this motorist in her alleged rage pulled a biological move instead of loaded gun I don’t want anyone who makes such rash and irrational decisions anywhere near me on the road If you’re that angry — or have to use the bathroom that bad — stay home People should not be clogging up our roads The so-called Delco Pooper (image provided) UPDATE 5/1 4:45pm: Police say the Delco Pooper is this 42-year-old Ridley Park resident who has been charged with several offenses Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here You can also use that form to send us reader mail One of the things that’s fun about this job is that it truly changes daily. Boring it is not. I wake up in the morning never knowing what funny, awful, or bizarre thing happened. And, well, sometimes — not often — something happens that is the funny-awful-bizarre trifecta. (Remember this guy?!) And so I give you the so-called Delco Pooper But when you have the public pitchforking (and believe me the pitchforks are out) over someone they are calling the Delco Pooper it’s hard not to delve into the rabbit hole On Tuesday at the intersection of 4th and Madison in Prospect Park And one of the people involved in said road rage dispute did something that no one expected The woman in the gray car then calls the Delco pooper a “slut,” which is an awful thing to call someone but is also the least bad thing that could happen after someone poops on the hood of the car that you’re sitting in Because I’ve seen video of the Delco pooper in action which isn’t available for me to link to in any public forums (it’s circulating in private members-only groups) I’m not allowed to show you the full squatting incident but the powers-that-be say I can show you the in a you-just-walked-into-a-gas-station-bathroom kind of way: This was all the talk of Delco on Wednesday internet sleuths believed they had identified the woman based on the visual similarities of the Delco Pooper and the Facebook profile photo of a woman who lives in Delco Prospect Park police chief Dave Madonna tells me that his department is investigating the messy incident “We can’t have things like this happening in Prospect park,” he insists Lots of people actually seem to think that the whole Delco Pooper video is a fake. But, here, Madonna explains why they are full of, well, you know what Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Delco Pooper incident happened on Wednesday.] The driver of the bus seen pushing a car down the street in a viral video is no longer working for SEPTA Seems like using your bus to push a car down the street that didn’t want to be pushed down the street would be a no-no Stealing a cat! But two kids apparently did just that I say their sentence should include a year of cleaning out all the litter boxes in the neighborhood A new report tells us that we have some of the smallest new apartments in the nation 86 degrees: Forecasted high for Philly this Saturday Not so great: looks like some rain and maybe thunderstorms But it looks like the wet weather won’t hit until later in the day so you can still get your fill in at the Southeast Asian Food Market at FDR Park $91 million: Budget gap at the beleaguered Camden City School District just over the bridge. And unfortunately, that means layoffs and other bad news $45,000: What a Bucks County woman just lost in this crazy used car scam A Year of Sales (and More Deals) in Philly How to Live Well (for Less) in Philadelphia Where to Live If You Love Having a Round With Your Friends A Passaic man admitted in federal court to trying to blow up a ATM machine in Prospect Park three years ago U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced on Thursday that Nicolas Torres pleaded guilty to "using an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce" before U.S Torres was seen on surveillance video igniting a device in front of an Automated Teller Machine at the Chase Bank in Prospect Park Seconds later there was an explosion and Torres and two others were seen fleeing "The investigation also revealed that Torres had traveled to Pennsylvania the day before and purchased approximately $1,000 worth of fireworks," said the U.S which also said cellphone data placed Torres in the vicinity of the Chase Bank at the time of the incident Torres faces five to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced on Sept Join Prospect Park Alliance for a new weekday evening volunteer opportunity Make the most of longer days in the warmer months and join the Alliance to get outside and lend a hand at locations throughout Brooklyn’s Backyard Volunteers will help with invasive plant removal We will meet at 5:00 pm and wrap up no later than 7:00 PM which gives you time to get home before dark or enjoy the sunset in the park afterwards Please note that these projects involve repetitive bending lifting and transporting loaded wheelbarrows though the Alliance will cancel in the event of extreme weather or hazardous conditions Register as an Individual or Register as a Group Register online or call (929) 888-6826 for more information Prospect Park is the property of the City of New York and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks & Recreation It is managed in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance Rumors started swirling on Thursday that footage of the fecal incident is not as it seems Prospect Park police chief Dave Madonna / Woman seen in Delco Pooper video It’s been less than 24 hours since the Delco Pooper became a thing. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can either give this a quick look On Tuesday in the Prospect Park section of Delco poop on the hood of a car before walking away all smiles These conspiracy theories have one thing in common: they claim that the Delco Pooper video is a fake (I should point out that the Delco Pooper is also known as the Delco Defecator and the Ridley Ripper Ridley being the town next to Prospect Park.) some people believe that the Delco Pooper video was digitally manipulated to make it look like someone left poop on the hood of the car when all they did was actually walk by the car it’s easy for the world to believe there was not actually poop involved in the Delco Pooper incident others are saying that this video isn’t from Delco or from earlier this week at all That it is just some random video that someone found in some dark corner of the internet and posted in a Delco neighborhood group claiming that it happened in Delco when it did not some believe that the Delco Pooper simply threw something or dumped something on the car that just looked gross One of these conspiracy theorists said that “you can see her holding something in her hands” while another argued that if she took a dump on the hood of the car there would be visible poop on her clothing as she walked away the most popular theory seems to be that the entire Delco Pooper incident was staged The Delco Pooper herself was in cahoots with the people filming from the car One person noted that she obviously smiles at the camera after walking away from the car some idiot on TikTok who wanted to get a bunch of followers so she called her friends to all create this scene Maybe the woman in the car that gets “pooped on” is her Aunt Edna The cops say that all of this is utter nonsense According to police familiar with the case they have identified all of the individuals involved and it is beyond clear to them that the people in these three cars had nothing to do with each other and that the Delco Pooper was a As for the idea that the video was digitally manipulated or that the Delco Pooper merely poured some liquid on the car and did not actually poop on it, for the answer to this question, I reached out to Prospect Park police chief Dave Madonna Police continue their investigation into this crappy situation The Grammy Awards: A Philadelphia Timeline of Winners and Memorable Moments 18 Awesome Philly-Area High School Programs for Your Awesome Kid At what other market can you do all your food shopping sample local wine and explore Brooklyn’s favorite park the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket is the flagship Brooklyn market EBT/Food Stamps and WIC & Senior FMNP coupons accepted year-round For a full calendar of events and a list of sellers, visit the GrowNYC website. Learn about all Nutrition Benefit Programs accepted at GrowNYC Markets. Discover hidden treasures, natural wonders and little-known tales on interactive guided tours of Prospect Park in the heart of Brooklyn, presented by Turnstile Tours in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance to the architectural movements that shaped the park See how use of the park has changed over time from designers Olmsted and Vaux’s original vision all the way to present day and Prospect Park Alliance’s sustainability and recreational projects that make the park the world-class destination it is today Tours will be held at 10:30 am on select Saturdays Learn more and RSVP for a tour at the Turnstile Tours website! Prospect Park Alliance and Art For Change present a large-scale public art exhibition in Grand Army Plaza: Park Of Dreams The project is installed on the construction fencing of the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch by Prospect Park Alliance through $8.9M in Mayoral funding which celebrates and supports Brooklyn’s beloved Prospect Park Park Of Dreams was made possible  in part through a $25,000 grant from Assembly Member Brian Cunningham with additional funding from Council Member Crystal Hudson The project was undertaken through the City Canvas initiative of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Visit the Art for Change website for more information on this exciting project. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org Molly Gochman’s ‘Monuments to Motherhood’ aims to ‘monumentalize the act of care.’ A new abstract bronze sculpture that celebrates motherhood and caregiving was unveiled in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park last week Created by Jewish artist and activist Molly Gochman part of her “Monuments to Motherhood” series is 15 feet tall and resembles a loosely tied knot whose most notable feature is the Soldiers and Sailors Arch which was built between 1889 and 1892 to honor Civil War Veterans is designed to subvert monuments that glorify violence and battlefield victories “What I’m trying to do is monumentalize the act of care,” Gochman told the New York Jewish Week in a recent phone interview The artist added that her sculpture is designed to “invite people to think of mothering in a more expansive way Gochman, 47, grew up in San Antonio, and is the daughter of antitrust and civil rights lawyer Arthur Gochman. The elder Gochman, who died in 2010 at age 79, was also the founder of an extremely successful sporting goods chain in Texas Molly Gochman — whose work has been shown at the Ukrainian Museum in New York and included in group exhibitions at Lincoln Center — moved to New York in 2012 Gochman serves as board chair for the Freedom Fund and is also on the Brooklyn Museum’s Council for Feminist Art and the New Museum’s Artemis Council Molly Gochman’s “Monuments to Motherhod” sculpture will be in Prospect Park through May 2026 (Alex Mctigue/Courtesy of Molly Gochman) which will be on view at Prospect Park through May 2026 is inspired by both her experience as a mother and her Jewish identity but I was raised with Jewish values,” Gochman said “The fifth commandment is to honor thy mother and father, and the Torah says three times that children should honor and care for their parents,” Gochman added “And I think care is fundamental to Judaism and the Jewish tradition and caregiving is a Jewish value that we can all identify with.” Gochman recognizes how motherhood has transformed many aspects of her life including her perception of joy and the passage of time “But remembering that I needed to do something for myself and creating this work was something I did for myself and modeling also for my kids that it’s okay to do something for yourself.” “I was thinking of the emotions I have and the gestures that I perform when I’m caring for others which are often like cooking and cleaning and holding,” Gochman said about her process creating the sculpture the two loops that come together support one another it reminds me of when my children’s limbs might flop over me when we’re cuddling at night.” Gochman also cites her late father as inspiration: As a lawyer, Arthur Gochman was perhaps best known for his involvement in the 1973 civil rights case San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez which challenged the way Texas public schools were financed by local property taxes Supreme Court decided that the state’s funding system was not a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment “It would have changed how we fund public education in this country,” Gochman said, looking back at what could have been different. “And realizing that we fail a lot, but even the failures are things we learn from. Jane Fonda says something about being young and thinking life was a sprint thinking it was a marathon —  and I’m now realizing it’s a relay race just carrying batons and knowing that I’m not going to reach the finish line.” To that end, another of Gochman’s “Monuments to Motherhood” sculptures is currently on view in Memphis, and Gochman also runs a podcast by the same name “The podcast allows me to talk with different people about how they practice caregiving,” she said “I talked to a man who takes care of his dad I talked to two trans activists who are house mothers So I’m trying to expand the definition of monuments and motherhood so that people can monumentalize an idea or an act.” Gochman’s other recent public installation projects include a 650-foot trench filled with red sand at the Houston airport representing the restriction on freedom of movement at the United States-Mexico border representing Russian aggression in the war in Ukraine a Brooklyn neighborhood with a large community from the former Soviet Union She has also mined her own family’s history through a multimedia project called “Memory Collage,” which includes family photos and a kiddush cup commemorating her great-grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary A section from Jewish artist and activist Molly Gochman’s ‘Memory Collage’ project detailing her family’s history Though Gochman designed “Monuments to Motherhood” with a few interpretations in mind she also hopes that people who pass by it make their own meaning out of it Gochman said a runner yelled out to her that he instinctively knew it was “about connection.” She hopes it can also be used as a meeting point a public Mother’s Day celebration with family-friendly activities at the sculpture is scheduled for Sunday and will become patinated over time from rain and oxygen and as the oils from visitors’ hands interact with the bronze “I think of it as looking like a hug when you enter Prospect Park,” Gochman said they feel embraced and welcome and feel like not only is Prospect Park your park The New York Jewish Week brings you the stories behind the headlines, keeping you connected to Jewish life in New York. Help sustain the reporting you trust by donating today I accept the Privacy Policy Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks join Prospect Park Alliance and a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club on an introductory walk to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons All levels are welcome and walks will begin at the Prospect Park Audubon Center Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult Route Description: This outing is at a leisurely pace with lots of stops to observe birds A different route through the park may be taken each week and grass and dirt paths with exposed roots Learn more on the Brooklyn Bird Club website. Join Prospect Park Alliance every Tuesday through March 25 for special winter service projects at our Winter Corps litter pick up and other landscaping needs The group meets at a different location every week All volunteers who RSVP will receive a reminder email with the meeting location before the event Keep an eye out for last-minute cancellations due to winter weather advisories Register for Winter Corps! PROSPECT PARK — Municipal leaders are calling on the Borough Council president to immediately resign after he was charged last week with having a role in an alleged mob-tied gambling ring including members of the Lucchese crime family Municipal government: Clifton poised to hire temporary city manager released a statement Monday asking that Shah reconsider his bid for another term and step down The statement was made on behalf of multiple “elected officials,” the mayor said “This moment calls for leadership that prioritizes the needs of the people above all else,” Khairullah wrote on Facebook “Stepping down is not an act of abandonment — it’s a recognition that the continued focus must remain on serving Prospect Park without disruption We believe this decision is in the best interests of our community and upholds the values that we’re entrusted to represent.” a native of Clifton and a Subway franchisee did not return a call placed to his cellphone Results of a two-year investigation were announced Friday by state Attorney General Matthew Platkin who said his office was “bringing every resource available to crack down on violent criminals” — including those in organized crime Authorities allege that Shah managed an online sportsbook and poker games for the criminal enterprise Upper management of the gambling ring used functioning businesses and shell corporations to conceal their illicit gains the chairman of the council committee on economic development and finance is unopposed in the primary election on June 10 An elections official said Tuesday that it was too late for his name to be removed from the ballot Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news in your community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: devencentis@northjersey.com Ancestral Whispers: Please note that the outdoor portion ReImagine Lefferts Artist in Residence, Adama Delphine Fawundu’s site-specific work, Ancestral Whispers, is currently de-installed for repairs due to high winds and will be re-installed shortly Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker How to Find Hidden Nature in Any Urban Park Near You Take a walk through Prospect Park with Wild NYC writer Ryan Mandelbaum and learn to connect with nature no matter how urban your environment is Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly but that can feel really hard to do when you live in a city It’s tough to feel like you’re really outside when you’re outside but if you start thinking like an urban naturalist you can find wildlife to appreciate everywhere you go My guest today is Ryan Mandelbaum. They’re a science writer, naturalist and educator based in New York City. Their new book, Wild NYC is a guide to exploring the natural wonders of the big Apple But they’ve also got tons of great tips on how to find wildlife in any built environment because if you can find nature in New York City If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today we are here in Prospect Park with Ryan Mandelbaum the author of a book called Wild NYC that’s all about finding wildlife even in urban spaces tell us a little bit about the book and what we’re gonna do here today There’s a lot of really interesting things to see but [also] a lot of really interesting things to talk about so we’re gonna experience some of that here in Prospect Park Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s backyard It also has the biggest forest in Brooklyn and it’s the place where I probably spend most of my time as a naturalist interactions between us and those plants and animals so I’m really excited to show you all what we have here Mandelbaum: The one thing I’m always doing as a naturalist is trying my best not to be completely distracted by all of the things that are happening at once five or 10 bird species that I’m experiencing and a lot of plants The birds I’m looking at are a Common Grackle—that little man running around on the ground A lot of the birds that we see here are ones that are more commonly associated with people So Common Grackle are often seen in areas that are kind of cleared open: farms or just places where we’ve altered And the other bird that’s running around on the ground here is a European Starling The legend is that somebody wanted all of the birds of Shakespeare .. which is that there were entire societies devoted to making the United States look like Europe and as part of that they introduced starlings It’s interesting because as a naturalist a lot of what I’m thinking about isn’t just the stories of these species but how they interact with the world at large And so you can’t really hate starlings because they’re really cute [laughs] and have a lot of personality perch on my air conditioner and sing a bunch of weird noises—they’re mimics so they can sing other bird songs really well and so they’ll take cavities from our native birds that use cavities The animal itself is not good or bad; the animal itself is a doofy little guy that runs around on the ground Feltman: What are some other animals that people in urban areas might be particularly likely to find Mandelbaum: I think American Robins are pretty common first birds you notice because they’re often present in backyards American Robin is a native bird to the United States An interesting thing about the city is that there’s a huge combination of both native plants and invasive plants and introduced plants It’s good.” Good and bad are kind of so there’s a lot more to it than that Something can be introduced and not necessarily bad “native,” but then because of our doing suddenly it’s—gets to the wrong place and takes over and it’s bad Mandelbaum: We’re standing under what I assume is an eastern white pine Mandelbaum: It’s an eastern white pine—looky Most of the eastern white pines here are planted; they’re more common You can tell it’s an eastern white pine when the needles are long and floppy and they’re kind of soft I like conifer trees ’cause they got green on ’em all year long so even in the winter they’re exciting and green being a naturalist as a born and bred New Yorker Mandelbaum: I’m not from New York City proper; I’m from So I always have to clarify that ’cause then real New Yorkers get mad at me But I’ve always liked walking around in the city and exploring places I hadn’t been before And then while I was in grad school I was writing about herons because I found out that New York City Bird Alliance was painting lawn flamingos to look like herons and egrets to try and coax them back onto one of the marsh islands tell me about [laughs] why they’re painting lawn flamingos.” excursion to Staten Island to try and find my own great blue heron turns out that they’re just in the parks [laughs] really warped the way I think about New York City as not just a place that I’m eating dinner in and going to shows in but a place that has its own natural history and really exciting interactions between humans and animals that I just found fascinating I need to see every single bird.” And then you get hit with the everything bug I need to see everything.” [Laughs] And that Feltman: So what are the kinds of things that what I really want people to do is walk around the city and understand appreciate what it is now and the amount of diversity that’s here what people have done to it and how animals are adapting to it but also understand just how biodiverse it’s always been New York City is kind of at the confluence of a lot of different eco areas—so there’s ocean and land; there’s north and south; there’s there’s been human habitation here for millennia and so just getting people to understand New York as more than just this concrete jungle but actually That is a Red-bellied Woodpecker that just flew up there Try to look at it without binoculars first You see it’s got the little red head They’re probably one of our most common woodpeckers we regularly see But that wouldn’t have been the case a hundred years ago; they’re very much a product of human altering the habitat and climate change but then they respond well to human alterations of habitats kinda like the robins and grackles and them and they’re really sensitive to cold temperature Mandelbaum: So as the climate changed and things warmed up they started moving north and we’re still starting—they’re still moving north today; like areas in the northern United States and Canada that wouldn’t have seen them before starting to get them They’re also an example of how ornithologists are really bad at naming birds What would you call it if you didn’t know what it was called There’s already a Red-headed Woodpecker And so it’s called the Red-bellied Woodpecker because [laughs] often what would happen is shoot a bunch of birds at random and then bring ’em back to their house and look at them and be like this one seems to have a little pink wash on its belly that you can only see if you’re looking at a dead one like this.” So they got “Red-bellied Woodpecker.” Feltman: [Laughs] I feel like so much of what our idea of doing nature and being a naturalist is comes from very rich people shooting birds [laughs] and writing stuff down about them Mandelbaum: I think the thing we’re doing right now is a good way to change the perception of the outdoors Going on your own sort of discovery missions or experiencing nature yourself and building your own personal connection to it is really important I look at birds ’cause they’re easy to look at and there’s a lot of infrastructure for looking at birds People who look at mushrooms and fungus here in New York City are if—I treat it as [as] interesting a place ecologically as the forest surrounding it and in many cases the biodiversity is actually higher here because [of] the amount of things we bring here and because New York is already a pretty rich place ecologically Feltman: And what about for folks who are like New York City has these giant parks that are where we don’t have a giant green space?” Like what advice do you have for people in other urban areas I think that’s what I’m really excited about about my book is that but it’s really about the interactions between what happens when humans enter a natural place—just really considering that humans are part of nature and when we change it it’s because we’re a species that lives there can go out in any place where you are and look at what’s around There’s plenty of really awesome resources that allow you to look more locally It’s an app that uses the help of both AI and a community of naturalists to help you identify things And this book happens to be of a series of Wild (Enter Your City Name Here) books so I think my publisher would probably tell you to buy the book for your city [laughs] which are places where the freshwater rivers meet saltwater oceans often are some of the most biodiverse places in the world and many of the world’s largest cities are on estuaries So generally your city probably will have quite a lot of really interesting things to look at So London plane is a hybrid of two sycamore species one from our continent and one from East Asia London plane was Robert Moses’s favorite tree because it can grow really well everywhere It likes—it doesn’t care about the sidewalk It’s like Robert Moses if he was a tree It is—supposedly the leaf of the London plane is the logo of the Parks Department here in New York City The London plane is not a very good tree for insects so it’s therefore not a really good tree for wildlife Mandelbaum: But there is some random moth that we see on it a lot that’s native that was just like I’ll deal with that.” [Laughs] And it’s a really pretty one monocultures designed for use by people only “Go touch grass,” they actually are not quite as good for nature as everywhere else a native flower garden or letting the lawn even just grow rather than using all of this water and mowing resources to make a big lawn Mandelbaum: It’s probably our—I would say it’s a Red-tailed Hawk but I ha—it’s really backlit and far away They are similarly a hawk that’s okay with humans altering the habitat So often what the Red-tailed Hawks will do is nest over on the—like I just got a look at the other one; it is also a Red-tailed Hawk what I wanna see when I’m on the lawn is so I’m not usually expecting to see any of those birds here in the park except on migration on this lawn You may think of woodpeckers as tree birds The ones that are sort of bigger and hunched over and have red on only the back of their heads are flickers it’s a woodpecker that likes the dirt My spouse calls them “dirtpeckers” ’cause they hang out on the ground and eat—feed like the robins Feltman: Are there particularly good times of year to go looking for wildlife in urban areas is probably—we’re just getting started with bird migration so our early species like the flickers migrate around now so we’re starting to see a lot of them Some of the sparrow species are starting to migrate But if you want something to look at that’s special in April Mandelbaum: And I just went on a really fun tour of New York City’s Alley Pond Park where you can find a couple species of native salamander—most common is red-backed salamander and spotted salamander—and we found them Feltman: [Laughs] I feel like salamanders are a thing that a lot of people don’t realize are in their cities At least here in the eastern United States the highest amount of biomass in the eastern forest is the red-backed salamander so they’re actually not especially common in the core of the boroughs The only place that you can see red-backed salamanders reliably in Brooklyn is Outside the outskirts of the city—so Staten Island especially northeastern Queens—there are places where you can see multiple species of salamander And this is also one thing I try and touch on in the book is that at the edges of the boroughs this kind of transition and interaction between humans and the natural world at its strongest because there are these places where it’s mostly really pristine eastern forest but then a lot of introduced stuff kind of creeping in and so you can kind of see those two things interact like trees surrounded by invasive vines or fights between native animals and introduced animals for nest space You can still kind of capture that amazing biodiversity of New York City while also seeing some of the human influence there That’s what this little guy right here is In an unaltered world they would probably be our most common sparrow in North America The wooded area here is nice because it features what I’m pretty sure is a stream that’s fed by New York City water supply that ends up becoming two ponds and then a river through the woods back there So for us this is kind of one of the better places to experience nature in the city because there’s quite a lot of different plants and animals What I’m usually looking for here is migratory birds who might come down to take a bath in some of these streams over here which there’s some nice flowering plants that you might So spicebush is a native plant to our area so you can see it’s just starting to flower A lot of plants will flower early on just because that way they can take advantage of the sun when the canopy isn’t all leafed out Its bark would’ve been used extensively by Indigenous people here But what you would do with them if you wanted to use them was dry ’em out and use ’em as spice and they have a flavor that’s kind of like allspice cinnamon and black pepper all wrapped in one There’s also a Ring-necked Duck over there which is pretty uncommon for Prospect Park They’re really common in the rest of the areas so that Ring-necked Duck is a special site for birders This is around the time of year that we see them on migration Usually there’s a couple that roll through all the parks every year That’s a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that is calling above us I often interact with other human beings when I’m birding because I look weird [laughs] And so a guy’ll come along—and I don’t know why old-timey New Yorkers have figured this one out—but they’ll go up you see any Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers?” And I’d be like “I know you’re making fun of me Mandelbaum: Imagine this: It’s all of time and you’re a bird and so they get concentrated into our parks these birds that have come all the way up from the equatorial regions migrating to these boreal habitats or the tundra or the northern woods it’s just an incredible phenomenon: there’s birds singing and flying around Feltman: What would you say are kind of big pitfalls to avoid as a person trying to appreciate wildlife What things should we try not to do so that we don’t cause harm Mandelbaum: Leaving things the way you found it is Just general “be nice to nature and nature will be nice to you back.” This is more for your own safety but definitely just follow the rules of the park and obey the law One thing that I found [laughs] is really nice in New York City is that when you do this enough you eventually get to know a lot of the folks who work in conservation and for the city and and being friends with them opens up more opportunities to look for nature and wildlife There’s a lot of really cool nature groups Most cities have at least some birding clubs Some of them have groups that are specific—if you might be able to find a community of folks who are going out every day looking at birds and wildlife and plants and things like that And for me the community has been probably my favorite part of it Just—I’ve made so many friends simply by going outside all the time and looking at interesting things open up their hearts and minds to all the other weirdos out here looking at the world how interesting it is that there’s so much diversity here What about things we’ve introduced that are not so good Mandelbaum: Humans have the ability to alter ecosystems in a way that most other animals can’t and with us we will sometimes move things around the world that can cause outsized negative impacts The place where some of these invasive insect infestations started some of them started in New York City because of the amount of shipping that happens here Some of the most aggressive invasive plants—the bittersweet started because it was a pretty plant sold at a We see the effects of climate change here on a daily basis A lot of the plants and animals that we see in New York City would not have been able to survive here about 100 years ago and are responding to a combination of warming temperatures and human-altered—habitat alteration while here in cities we have a lot of biodiversity that’s not what people a lot of what they’re trying to do is And so in a lot of places the presence of humans will actually reduce biodiversity It’s our duty and our responsibility that we use our ability to alter habitats to conserve them and make sure we’re living in concert with the world thank you so much for chatting with us about your book and for showing us all around your home park Would you remind our listeners and viewers what your book is called You can purchase it wherever books are sold or You can learn more about exploring urban environments in Ryan’s book and don't forget to check out our YouTube channel to see all of the cool stuff Ryan and I saw during the chat you just heard We’re taking a break from our usual news roundup format while I’m out of the office but we’ve got a special dip into the SciAm archives for you to enjoy Spoiler alert: it features a super scientific hunt for psychics Shayna Possess and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news Rachel Feltman is former executive editor of Popular Science and forever host of the podcast The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week She previously founded the blog Speaking of Science for the Washington Post Kylie Murphy is a filmmaker with a focus in comedy Kylie currently works as a freelance editor Alex Sugiura is a Peabody and Pulitzer Prize–winning composer editor and podcast producer based in Brooklyn Jeff DelViscio is currently chief multimedia editor/executive producer at Scientific American He is former director of multimedia at STAT he spent more than eight years at the New York Times where he worked on five different desks across the paper He holds dual master's degrees from Columbia University in journalism and in earth and environmental sciences He has worked aboard oceanographic research vessels and tracked money and politics in science from Washington He was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018 including two News and Documentary Emmy Awards Fonda Mwangi is a multimedia editor at Scientific American She previously worked as an audio producer at Axios She holds a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington Carin Leong is a documentary filmmaker based in New York Her projects have received support from Field of Vision Her work has appeared in Scientific American She holds a master's degree in science journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and is also a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Subscribe to Scientific American to learn and share the most exciting discoveries innovations and ideas shaping our world today Scientific American is part of Springer Nature which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at www.springernature.com/us) Scientific American maintains a strict policy of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly It’s tough to feel like you’re really outside when you’re outside Rachel Feltman is former executive editor of Popular Science and forever host of the podcast The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week Kylie Murphy is a filmmaker with a focus in comedy Alex Sugiura is a Peabody and Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Jeff DelViscio is currently chief multimedia editor/executive producer at Scientific American Fonda Mwangi is a multimedia editor at Scientific American Carin Leong is a documentary filmmaker based in New York Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of New York straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By 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New York It's our humble opinion that the best way to spend 4/20 is outside with other people who are high off their minds is hosting a massive picinic from 2pm until 7pm so FLAMER's theme will be a queer congregation They're asking attendees to dress in their Sunday best. They're expecting sound baths and meditation with Weed Auntie Come with ready to socialize—They're expecting upwards of 700 people.  but make sure to RSVP on their Partiful link.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us The damage from the massive fire that broke out in Prospect Park earlier this month will take years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair according to the nonprofit that runs the green space The Nov. 8 blaze enveloped 2 acres near the park’s Nethermead meadow A firefighter was hospitalized after being injured while battling the blaze Officials from the Prospect Park Alliance on Wednesday reported the work to restore the area could take up to three years and cost as much as $275,000 “This estimate includes funding to clear the site of debris stabilize the slopes and implement erosion control measures and to seed and replant with a mix of native climate adapted species over the next three years,” Prospect Park Alliance spokesperson Laura Robinson wrote in a statement Robinson said the price tag for the work could be lower if arborists find large canopy trees that loom over the burnt out section of the park do not need to be uprooted and replaced A charred area of Prospect Park seen days after a brush fire enveloped a section of the green space The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the city fire department charred remnants of an apparent encampment — including a scorched umbrella blackened pots and a barbecue grill — were still at the burn site The scorching of Brooklyn’s backyard came amid a historic drought in the city It was far from the only brush fire to break out in the five boroughs’ green spaces while they’ve been starved of rain FDNY officials reported the department has battled more than 371 brush fires so far in 2024 The true scope of the damage in Prospect Park will become more clear as the alliance continues to track the damage to trees when they emerge from their winter dormancy next spring City officials say the recent rain that broke this fall’s historic dry spell still isn’t enough to lift the drought warning that’s been in place across the five boroughs since Nov Liam Quigley is a reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC. Got a tip? Email [email protected] The decision marks the second time a court has rejected the Trump administration’s attempts to move Khalil’s case to a Louisiana court. Waldemar Alverio also faces five years of post-release supervision after injuring two people and firing into nearby buildings. Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Delaware County woman was arrested after allegedly defecating on another driver’s car during a bizarre road rage incident that was caught on video and quickly went viral is accused of squatting on a vehicle’s hood and relieving herself during a traffic dispute at Fourth Street and Madison Avenue in Prospect Park on Tuesday according to Prospect Park Police and court documents which has circulated widely on social media shows a woman apparently pantsless stepping out of a vehicle and walking away smiling as the stunned driver shouts at her Solometo was later identified as the so-called "Delco Pooper" after officers obtained the original video from the witness who recorded it but I pooped on her car instead and went home.” When police visited her home on Thursday According to the docket filed with Magisterial District Judge Mary Hopper She was held at Delaware County Prison after initially being unable to post bail Records show she posted $1,000 cash bail later that day using her own funds Solometo’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday Despite the online amusement over the situation Chief Dave Madonna emphasized in a Facebook Live broadcast that the incident is no joke “There’s all kinds of puns and innuendos online we are treating it seriously,” Madonna said “No town wants this to happen in their town The recognition a town gets over this kind of thing The victim’s car was reportedly being professionally detailed on Thursday Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Officials are investigating what caused a brush fire in Prospect Park Friday night Flames engulfed a roughly two-acre area near the Nethermead meadow in the center of the Brooklyn park after breaking out around 7 p.m. More than 100 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the scene with some remaining overnight in case of reignition It comes as weather officials extend a red flag warning for the city cautioning about an elevated risk of brush fires through Saturday The city is currently in a drought watch due to minimal rain over the last month It’s the first time the city has been under drought watch in more than 20 years “We are encouraging New Yorkers to not throw cigarette butts on the ground being aware of those things,” Emergency Managment Commissioner Zach Iscol said on the scene Friday night but it’s something we need to be prepared for,” he added Officials said the drought watch could escalate to a drought warning if conditions don’t change soon Flames were also spotted in Highbridge Park in the Bronx Friday night That fire was also brought under control within a few hours a brush fire burned just across the Hudson River in New Jersey There is no measurable rain in the forecast until later next week Please note the Lefferts Historic House will be closed on Thursday, August 1 and Friday, August 2. We apologize for any inconvenience. For information on Lefferts Historic House and the ReImagine Lefferts Initiative, please visit prospectpark.org/lefferts She's charged with "depositing waste on highway," among other offenses is Christina Solometo of Ridley Park (photo provided) A fierce drought was keeping its grip on states across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Saturday windy conditions ignited a fire in an iconic green space in New York: Brooklyn's Prospect Park The blaze swept through park woodland, engulfing roughly two acres in an area called the Ravine, according to the nonprofit Brooklyn Park Alliance flames could be seen piercing through thick tree line in the 526-acre New York City park in the middle of the borough An individual passing by reported smoke from the fire at around 6:40 p.m. New York City Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker told reporters FDNY officials said extremely dry vegetation and heavy winds contributed to the two-alarm fire in a hilly dense brush area difficult for firefighters to access Firefighters stayed overnight to monitor conditions after extinguishing the blaze about three hours after it was first reported The cause of the fire was unclear as of Saturday morning a beloved destination in Brooklyn which contains sculptures a carousel and dozens of athletic and recreational facilities and is known for its wetlands and trees the carousel was closed because of poor air quality conditions and visitors were warned to use caution accessing the park New York City, an area not known for wildfires, has been under a drought watch after the driest October on record, which increases risk of fires, Mayor Eric Adams said on social media In the metropolitan area, residents may see or smell smoke from wildfires on the New York and New Jersey border, the city Emergency Management said on social media Several fires in New Jersey threatened dozens of structures and burned hundreds of acres. NorthJersey.com reported Saturday morning that flames burned fall foliage on the ground up to a highway in Pompton Lakes On Saturday morning, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory for unhealthy levels of particulate matter for sensitive groups such as young children and people with preexisting conditions State officials recommended residents limit strenuous outdoor activity In a Special Weather Statement spanning from Washington the weather service warned of heightened risks of wildfires throughout the region Officials urged residents to exercise caution with potential ignition sources such as machinery the weather and fuel conditions could cause fires to quickly get out of control and be difficult to contain,” the statement said (This story was updated to add new information and a new video.) Sunday was a snow day for many as inches of snow covered the five boroughs overnight It was a bit slippery on streets and sidewalks but many New Yorkers were still out and about enjoying the moment “This is the only shot we’re gonna get this winter I got the skis sitting in the basement all year it’s today or never,” said Jacob Goldstein walked to the park and that he enjoyed his time in the woods in the middle of New York City “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love snow,” said Anastasia Wild who was at the park with her dog and a friend’s dog Even four legged New Yorkers were getting in on the snow fun including dogs who were playing frisbee and frolicking in the white stuff The wet and heavy snow was ideal for building snowmen – with no shortage of admirers “It’s great that there’s enough snow to finally build a snowman and we’ve had some snowfall at least in the city so it’s nice that kids can build it,” said Ian Klapper another parkgoer who was taking a picture of a giant snowman someone had built but if you get under the first layer then it’s actually pretty easy,” said 12-year-old Joshua Wright Wright said he loves the winter and was excited waking up this morning to snow “I opened the shade and I saw a lot of snow Others were getting their thrill on the hills in the park It’s really fun to go sledding in the park and stuff,” said 10-year-old Adeline Nusbaum Parkgoers made the best of the  snow day as fans of winter prepare for whatever else Mother Nature has in store New York has more snow forecasted to arrive in the city over the coming days with the potential to disrupt weekday commutes New Yorkers were enjoying a snowy Sunday having fun — A 44-year-old Pennsylvania mother has been arrested after a viral video showed her getting out of her car and defecating on the hood of the car of another woman She chased me and asked her not to attack me.” both women were headed in the same direction on Tuesday in Delaware County when Solometo thought the woman in the dark-colored car was following her when she was simply going home Solometo's actions left some neighbors speechless it’s been running through my mind all day since I heard about it,” said one person Solometo was booked on charges including indecent exposure and a misdemeanor for “depositing waste on the highway.” “I have a sickness!," although she didn’t elaborate on what that was The bizarre case has now gotten international attention No town wants this to happen in their town," said Prospect Park Police Chief David Madonna the recognition a town gets over this kind of thing PROSPECT PARK — The Borough Council president was arrested and charged Wednesday with conspiracy perpetrated the illegal conduct as an associate of the Lucchese crime family Social media: Want to limit your child's screen time? Wayne school counselors have helpful pointers state that Shah allegedly possessed gambling records such as those commonly used in a bookmaking enterprise or a lottery scheme The court document also says the councilman used a premises open to the general public for the gambling activity The alleged crimes took place in Hanover Township The complaint was signed by Detective Sgt. Michael Gallant of the New Jersey State Police, and the case was transferred to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Shah did not return a call placed to his cellphone In January 2016, a top capo for the Lucchese crime family and two of his sons were sentenced to eight to 10 years in state prison for their roles in a multibillion-dollar gambling racket that relied on extortion and violence to collect debts Mayor Mohamed Khairullah acknowledged the arrest in a statement saying people should restrain from passing judgment before the legal process plays out “I want to reaffirm that this administration holds all public officials to the highest standards of ethics and accountability,” he wrote on Facebook “Our commitment to lawful and transparent government remains firm Our focus continues to be serving residents with integrity Shah, whose term expires this year, recently came under fire when a longtime political foe accused him of annexing public property to his backyard on East Main Street and not paying taxes on the extra land a family shop for almost nine decades and the longest-lived business in the borough Bobby Aiello, the third-generation owner of the store, at 218 Haledon Ave., announced that it permanently shut down in a letter posted on Facebook increasing costs of produce and society’s dependence on the internet contributed to the decision “We had a good run,” Aiello said in the letter “I will cherish the lifetime of memories forever.” The store opened as a produce market in September 1937 It evolved over the years to sell baskets filled with cheese and table centerpieces of fresh fruit and vegetables It offered seasonal gift boxes during the holidays and watermelon boats in the summer “The success my father and I had here was due to many factors,” Aiello said “We had the help of family throughout the years — and for me my aunts and uncles were there to assist me at a moment’s notice.” who worked there for an astounding 60 years Land use: Wayne gas station, site of 2019 crash that killed three people, getting overhauled “The final and most difficult farewell is to my loyal customers who I will also call friends,” Aiello said and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” A fast-moving fire engulfed several homes Wednesday afternoon in Prospect Park At about 3:33 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a possible house fire near North 11th Street and Fairview Avenue, reported the Prospect Park Fire Department. Upon arrival the chief of the department declared a working fire at 265 N with flames extending to the houses at 267 and 263 Second and third alarms were called as heavy fire spread through the structures Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah praised the firefighters on social media for their quick response crediting them with minimizing structural damage and saving lives — including rescuing a cat from one of the burning buildings Highlights include Family Day at Little Scholars Childcare Center in Downtown Brooklyn with an epic “paper party” free rides at Jane’s Carousel Day in DUMBO Children’s Day at Japan Village in Industry City and the Pinkster holiday at Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park Don’t miss the AAPI Month celebration at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights or The Big Brooklyn Playdate for little ones at the Central Library in Prospect Heights there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in local parks and support climate justice in our community The Pier 2 Roller Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park offers free admission hours on Mondays Roller skate with amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan Join us for weekly board game and video game sessions Enjoy a wide variety of games from classic board games to video games Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks just make sure to enjoy them inside the room Hopalong Andrew’s weekly shows at Whole Foods are FREE! Make sure to double check in his Instagram the morning of to make sure class has not been cancelled for any reason Tuesday, April 29 | 11am | Ages 2-5 | RSVP here There is not an indoor space at this event Join park educators for Tot Time Tuesday at Hendrix Creek Patio on April 1st Learn about nature with FREE toddler-friendly crafts and activities This event is catered towards children aged 2 through 5 All children must be accompanied by a guardian for the duration of the event Tuesdays @ 11am at Smith Street location | Thursdays @ 11am at Montague Street location Join Books Are Magic for Tiny Storytime for ages 6-36 months Join us each Tuesday at 11am and select Saturdays at 10am for a special storytime – perfect for babies and toddlers Private Picassos Founder Valeen Bhat will read a favorite kid’s book in our cozy reading nook toys and exploring all of the books we have at our Studio Tuesdays | 12:30-1:30pm | Register here Our weekly postpartum support group offers a safe and welcoming space for new parents to share their experiences This free group provides emotional support and valuable resources to help navigate the physical and emotional journey after childbirth Our Fourth Trimester Support Group is here to uplift you through your unique postpartum experience This class is being held exclusively at Canopy in our private classroom and is free for both members and non-members to attend and feel free to bring your newborn or come by solo Join the Urban Park Rangers to reveal nature in the city all around you Bring your baby to Fontainhas for some cozy chai and hangs with other new moms. Hosted every week by the new mom pop-up POST Join the Amateur Astronomers Association with our friends at Pioneer Works for Why We Die with Venki Ramakrishnan Stop by the Big Brooklyn Playdate to enjoy fun games and activities that delight young children and encourage early literacy Science Baby will be hosting the Toddler Zone featuring hands-on sensory play with big STEM concepts for little kids Come to play and leave ready to turn ordinary objects in your home into your child’s favorite toys For babies and toddlers birth to 3 years and their parents and caregivers Wednesdays | 3-6pm | Reserve tickets here; free tickets are made available at 3pm the Monday before Take advantage of free admission hours at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island Note that advance timed tickets are required; the Wednesday Afternoon Ticket Store will open on Monday at 3:00 pm for that Wednesday’s reservations Do not come to the aquarium without a reserved ticket Celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) with activities for children of all ages Learn a little through an exciting game of trivia This program is presented by our amazing LoT intern This is her end of session Capstone project Come support her and enjoy all her hard work Join us once a week for a special toddler play group For two hours our Studio will be transformed into the perfect play area for your kid and an assortment of board and story books Thursdays | 10am-12pm | RSVP here Please check your email prior to the event for changes updates and to confirm the walk has met a minimum participant requirement Thursdays | 2-5pm | Reserve here Explore some of our most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the miniature shops of World Brooklyn, our NEST kids’ climber, and more. Then check out ColorLab our family art studio located on the 2nd floor of the Museum We recommend reserving your tickets in advance online Thursday, May 1 | 3:00-3:45pm | RSVP here Join BCM during Community Access Thursdays in May for a series of programs celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Join us on Thursday afternoons (2-5pm) throughout the month for special programs celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander culture meet author Michele Wong McSween and join this interactive bilingual reading of Gordon & Li Li: Learn Animals in Mandarin Learn how to say the names of a zoo full of animals in both English and Mandarin and check out Michele’s books and plushies available for purchase Thursdays & Fridays @ 3-5pm | Saturdays @ 1-5pm Visit the Environmental Education Center for Open Hours Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park and reading materials which rotate on a monthly basis After School Movie at Brooklyn Heights Library This week’s movie: “Big Hero 6” (2014) No registration required; attendance limited by room capacity Free story time for ages 0-6 at Fountainhas on Thursdays at 4:30 pm Bring your little ones for a fun story while you enjoy a glass of chai or wine Friday, May 2 | 3:15-4:00pm | Ages 4-7 | Email to register: [email protected] Space is limited so you will be notified that your child is confirmed with a spot Teen Reset: Relax with Sandy the Therapy Dog Join us in the Teen Game Room for Teen Reset our friendly therapy dog—the perfe ct companion for some relaxation and good vibes Friday, May 2 | 6:00-7:30pm | RSVP here Saturday, May 3 | 8-10am | Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult | Register here This event will be one of 120+ projects taking place across New York and the Hudson Valley as part of Riverkeeper’s 14th annual day of service Coastal Cleanup Volunteers help keep our shorelines clean by removing debris that washes into the park’s marshes and beaches with the tides Volunteers also document the types of trash collected—data that is shared with the Ocean Conservancy to support global efforts in understanding and combating plastic pollution Volunteers of all ages are welcome; under 16’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian No volunteer orientation or experience is required but note that this activity may involve climbing up and down rocks Advance registration is required and spaces are limited Street Tree Care with Council Member Restler and Grace Church: Meet at the corner of Hicks Street and Grace Court Join us for a couple hours of tree bed maintenance to improve the tree canopy in the neighborhood We will be cleaning any refuse out of tree beds This event is great for people of all ages Please wear comfortable clothes appropriate for the weather and close toed shoes Volunteer to help keep the park healthy and clean Saturday, May 3 | 10am | RSVP here Join us for a joyful morning of music and play and learn more about The Co-op School in a relaxed It’s the perfect way to spend the morning with your little one — and discover why our school is the best place for joyful learning stop by Dekalb Market Hall (downstairs at City Point) for free activities for kids ages 2 to 10 years old Located in front of Osteria & Showroom Bakehouse Saturday, May 3 | 10am-12pm | All ages | Sign up here Bring the family and join the Cadman Park Conservancy for a couple hour of cleaning and mulching to get this park ready for some spring enjoyment Saturday, May 3 | 10am-1pm | Ages 0-5 | RSVP here  Families with children 0 to 5 years old are invited to the Family Opening Party at Little Scholars Childcare Center in Downtown Brooklyn for a free day of play May 3 from 10 am to 1 pm (with optional tours from 1 to 3 pm) selfies with princess Cinderella and the ultimate paper party for kids Get to see the new facility opening this spring Join the Alliance to discover why Prospect Park is an important place for over 250 species of birds Learn why warblers are so wonderful through fun games Saturday, May 3 | 10:30am-4:00pm | Register here Get ready for a burst of springtime joy as BAMkids SpringFest returns to The Plaza at 300 Ashland painting Brooklyn with the vibrant colors and lively sounds that make our borough unique This fun-filled day celebrates a rich tapestry of cultures through exciting performances and hands-on activities and explore diverse art forms from around the world—all while learning about caring for our planet Saturday, May 3 | 11:00-11:30am | RSVP here Spider in the Well author-illustrator Jess Hannigan delivers a hysterical picture book about a frightened young girl who invites readers into their home to hide from the “bear out there”—only for readers to realize all may not be what it seems inside or outside May 3 | 11am-2pm | Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult Saturday, May 3 | 11am-2pm | For supervised youth ages 9-13, teens and adults | Register here Help Prospect Park Alliance keep our park green and vibrant Explore the park while tackling litter and helping with other greening opportunities Supplies can be checked out at various locations around the park and include all necessary tools for your volunteer experience Celebrate Jane’s Carousel Day with free rides and face painting Saturday, May 3 | 12pm | Sign up here Join Beautify Brooklyn & The Artmageddon Collective to revitalize & restore our natural landscape in Brooklyn & launch our new 501(c)(3) nonprofit Celebrate Mother’s Day with us at the Japanese Makers Market Discover beautifully handcrafted gifts from talented Japanese artists—perfect for mom May 9 (family-friendly programs highlighted below on Saturday Celebrate the creativity of your local community during the seventh annual Made in NYC Week Made in NYC will have 13 retail stores featuring locally-made products and hosting makers for demonstrations: 9 of these stores are in Brooklyn check out one of these family-friendly events: Come meet YA and children’s author Claire Ahn and learn what it takes to write a book and hear her story of how she wrote her first and now third novels and published with Penguin Random House was chosen as Seventeen’s book club pick centers around teenagers and the use of social media and becoming ‘insta-famous.’ Her third novel is currently in the process of being written and she can share more about it in person If you’ve ever wanted to be a writer Decorate plastic plant pots and make a matching card for the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday Saturdays & Sundays | Performances at 2pm & 4pm After presenting concerts for nearly 50 years in a floating concert hall at Pier 1 Bargemusic has relocated their chamber music concerts to the Boathouse at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 This weekend: Mozart String Quintets with Mark Peskanov and Semplice Players Saturday, May 3 | 5-10pm | Register here Bring your friends and family to May’s First Saturday, showcasing the vibrant artistry, rich histories, and recreations of the Asian American and Pacifica Island diasporas in New York. This event is free; registration is required Come celebrate with us Sunday, May 4th at 10am for our Grand Opening of Bang Cookies Brooklyn at City Point and meet comedian and celebrity TikToker Corey B. and Mike “The Situation” From Jersey Shore Sunday, May 4 | 10:30-11:15am | RSVP here Using songs, dance, and guided play, Steph leads little ones (and their caregivers!) through exercises that focus on language development, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and creative expression to support their growing bodies and brains. Steph’s Little Movers fosters an environment that meets your little ones where they are Through playful routine and community care Steph aims to equip your child with the tools they need to build their imagination and lead the way Join us at St Mary’s Playground for a FREE Music Class led by Jonathon Harris Jonathon will lead children in play through music so get ready to move and sing Sunday, May 4 | 11:45am-1:30pm | Age 5-12 | Register here Register your child (ages 5-12) for a fun afternoon of tennis instruction and games! All experience levels welcome. Supported by Kings County Tennis League This event has unfortunately been cancelled due to the rainy forecast. Montague Open Streets will return next weekend for their Mother’s Day celebration, plus Mini Golf and Music! Learn more here The Church Avenue Street Fair is on Sunday The fair will be packed with attractions from Coney Island Ave to Argyle Rd Featuring a craft sale from The Craft Salon Join your friends at Powerhouse Books on Sundays at 1pm for storytime Join us for Children’s Day at Japan Village Join us this Sunday for FREE kids face painting in celebration of Cindo de Mayo Prospect Park Alliance celebrates the 2025 season opening of our historic house museum with a celebration of Pinkster a historic festival of African culture in New York Sunday, May 4 | 2-5pm | Register here Alkemie Early Music Ensemble is hosting a May Day Celebration in Prospect Park on Sunday Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to this casual which will take place near the Peristyle on the south side of the Park May Day is a celebration of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer and Alkemie’s inaugural iteration will include a guided May Day dance a demonstration of non-amplified medieval instruments Sunday, May 4 | 3:00-6:30pm | RSVP here healers and dreamers for LIVING SOILS RISING three creative acts to seed-the-future for climate justice and healing at Under the K Bridge Park Hundreds of us will gather where Indigenous land was taken for the birth of the fossil fuel industry from 1867 until today and honor the harmed land and envision a livable energy future together plant or animal local to Northern Brooklyn Do you want all local parenting news in your inbox? Sign-up for our weekly newsletter now Updated: May 3, 2025. Main Photo: Family Day Downtown Bklyn Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park New York City’s parks will be unusually quiet this New Year’s Eve. Due to the ongoing drought, firework shows will not take place in Central Park or Prospect Park this year, as first reported by the New York Times Running non-profit New York Road Runners said City Hall and the Parks Department instructed them to forgo this year’s fireworks display during the annual New Year’s Eve race in Central Park the traditional fireworks show has been swapped for a drone light show featuring images of iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty The NYRR is “exploring other festive options” to commemorate the end of their four-mile Midnight Run which typically traverses the inner loop of Central Park and kicks off on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. offering runners a quick start into the New Year the drone light show will turn the night sky into a glowing canvas above Grand Army Plaza New York City is currently under a drought warning the second of three escalating levels of drought advisories each involving stricter water conservation measures Despite the five boroughs receiving a considerable amount of rain on Thanksgiving Day, the city’s seven reservoirs are still stuck at roughly 59 percent, according to the Times The rainfall budged the levels slightly higher than they were previously and they still remain well below the 82 percent capacity that is typical for this time of year Prospect Park is still recovering from a two-acre brush fire that devasted its heavily wooded Nethermead area, located near the park’s Boathouse, that broke out on November 11. According to the Times officials are working to prevent soil erosion on one of the damaged hillsides by putting in logs and netting to hold it in place The planting of new foliage will begin in time which is expected to cost over $200,000 in plants and labor president and chief executive of the Prospect Park Alliance Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan saw two brush fires last month, on November 13 and 19. In the Bronx, two separate fires blazed in Van Cortlandt Park, according to The City These incidents have contributed to the city’s Fire Department responding to a record-breaking 229 brush fires over two weeks in November By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a2d72e417cc56594c714cb4a213a40e2" );document.getElementById("d57a537edf").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can unsubscribe at any time