Hidden Corner of Prospect Park Set for Major Comeback with $37.5M Upgrade

By Y.M. Lowy

For many in Boro Park, a short walk brings you into Prospect Park - especially when the weather turns nice and people head out to relax, walk, or just get some fresh air.

Now, one of the park’s quiet corners is about to get a major upgrade.

City officials, together with the Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, officially broke ground on a $37.5 million project to completely restore the area known as “the Vale,” located in the northeast section of the park.

This is the largest project in the park in over a decade, and it’s set to transform about 8 acres into a space that feels both natural and usable for everyone.

The plan is to turn what has been a mostly overlooked area for over 50 years into something people will want to spend time in. There will be a pollinator meadow filled with plants that attract butterflies and birds, a nature exploration area for kids, and a new picnic lawn with a small pavilion.

One of the more interesting parts of the project is the return of the historic Children’s Pool, which hasn’t been properly restored in decades. It’s being brought back with its original look, but also redesigned to support wildlife, creating a small habitat right inside the park.

The plan was shaped over two years with input from the community, and funded by the city, with additional environmental support to restore the surrounding woodlands and improve the overall ecosystem.

Work is expected to continue over the next few years, with completion projected for 2027.