Prospect Park South - Brooklyn, NY

Prospect Park South was developed by Dean Alvord in 1899 to create a “rural park within the limitations of the conventional city block and city street.“ Many trees were planted along the curb and building lines to create visual unity. The area’s homes were built in the Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Queen Anne styles for the most part, with strict provisions placed on developers to maintain a consistent visual appeal.

In 1978, Prospect Park South was designated as a historic district.

Prospect Park South supports no museums or art galleries. For that, you’ll need to travel to neighboring Windsor Terrace or Flatbush. The astounding architecture remains to be appreciated with a walking tour.

Though Prospect Park South has no annual events, neighboring Park Slope supports the Great GoogaMooga for music, food and fun in summer.

Many of Prospect Park South's restaurants are found along Church Avenue, an active thoroughfare in this quiet neighborhood. You'll likely find whatever you're seeking in terms of food, including Caribbean, Asian, American, bakeries, vegetarian, Thai, Mexican, and more. MangoSeed Restaurant leads the area in Caribbean cuisine, from jerk fish red tacos to braised oxtail and coconut fried chicken. Locals love the gorgeous presentation and truly authentic flavors. It can get really crowded – it's that good – so make sure to get here early, or make a reservation ahead of time. Shenanigans Pub is the area's beloved dive bar, with open mics, cheap drinks, karaoke and a great jukebox. If hookah lounges are more your thing, try Red Mist Hookah Lounge & Cafe for lots of flavored tobacco and a chill vibe.

As a borough close to Manhattan, Prospect Park South has many options when it comes to public transportation. The Q train stops at Parkside Avenue and several bus routes service this neighborhood.

It’s relatively easy to hail a cab in Prospect Park South, depending on the time of day, and Uber pickups are also easy to arrange online.

Parking can be difficult in this neighborhood, and what you find will likely to be expensive. The Prospect Expressway provides the most accessible highway nearby, if you choose to drive.

Prospect Park South is very walkable and designed to be that way. Nearby Prospect Park has many bike lanes, making it friendly for cyclists.

Prospect Park, located directly to the north, provides the biggest and best option for green space in the area. Its 585 acres have a zoo, lake, carousel and tennis center over a huge swatch of open park space. Some of the activities visitors can engage in include baseball and softball, basketball, bicycling, boating, football, horseback riding, picnics, running or walking, skating, tennis, soccer and volleyball.

Dogs, fitness buffs and kids are welcome, and many special events such as weddings and birthday parties are held here each year. Admission to the park is free.

Though Prospect Park South hosts no annual events, Trop Fest, the world’s largest short film festival, happens in Prospect Park each June.

Prospect Park South’s cost of living generally is lower than the New York average though higher than the national average, with a one-bedroom residence renting for around $1,700 per month.

It costs around $3 to get to Manhattan from Prospect Park South by subway. A beer at a local pub will run you around $6, and gas prices sit around 17 percent higher than the national average here.

Prospect Park South was developed as a suburban area, and its historic designation has kept out big box and high-end, chain or luxury shopping. This is to the benefit of the area, which enjoys a number of charming small boutiques, many of them gathered around Church and Flatbush avenues.

Ragga Muffin provides this area with up-to-the-minute fashion-forward shoes for men, women and kids and the prices are negotiable, so feel free to bargain away. If you’re looking for a great gift, Owl & Thistle General Store carries local, green, fair, and direct-trade products like homemade candles and soaps, jewelry, and more, and even offer classes in knitting, crocheting, and other crafty activities.

Though there is a large chain supermarket, Key Foods on Flatbush Avenue, most of Prospect Park South’s grocers are of the small variety. Downtown Natural Market provides healthy eaters with fresh produce, herbal remedies and pressed juices. Church Fruit Farm has a highly organized section for fruits and vegetables, and Meat Palace Supreme has all the fresh and smoked meats your heart could desire.

The closest farmers' market happens in Flatbush on Courtelyou. Each Sunday, local farmers bring their wares to sell to a happy crowd.