Ocean Parkway

Designated January 28, 1975

Ocean Parkway, the first road of its kind built in the United States, established a new concept in road building. The road is about six miles long and stretches from Coney Island to just south of Prospect Park. It evolved from an idea expressed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in their 1866 preliminary report to the Park Commissioners of Brooklyn on their plans for Prospect Park. They suggested that the shaded “pleasure” drive on the western side of Prospect Park be extended from the park to the ocean. The 210 foot-wide parkway was divided into: a central roadway 70 feet wide, two malls 20 feet wide, two side roads both 25 feet wide, and two sidewalks each 15 feet wide. The Parkway is lined with deciduous trees (maple, oak, sycamore, elm and some gingko trees) and is provided with benches, playing tables and a bicycle path all of which are heavily used by nearby residents. For many people in Brooklyn, Ocean Parkway is the only large, open space with trees and grass that is readily accessible to them.

STATUS Designated Scenic Landmark

Take Action

Add the next LPC meeting to your calendar.

Let your local representative know you care.
nyc.gov

Help preserve New York’s architectural history with a contribution to HDC

$10 $25 $50
Other >

The Neighborhood

Kings County

Explore the Neighborhood >

Local Voices

“I don’t know what the City would be without HDC. [They] testified before LPC time after time and helped us focus on the right issues. We would not be an historic district without HDC! ”

Doreen Gallo: DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance

Local Voices

“Use HDC as a resource because they know what they are doing and can offer advice on how to go about creating a district from every front: architectural, political, LPC, and the media. I had floundered prior to my involvement with this invaluable organization.”

Fern Luskin: Lamartine Place Historic District; Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site

Local Voices

“HDC provided guidance and shared information during that process—we knew which Council members were going one way or another and we changed a few minds. I don’t think NoHo would have had as cohesive a district had it not been for HDC’s aid.”

Zella Jones: NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension

Local Voices

“I remember Richard saying at a meeting, we have someone here from HDC, Nadezhda Williams, Director of Preservation and Research, to help us. She said to us, ‘You are not the only ones going through this.’ HDC included us in an enormous community”

Erika Petersen: West End Preservation Society

Local Voices

"HDC has begun a series of projects to highlight the Bronx's architectural and cultural history. From booklet's and research highlighting specific sites and historic districts to the HDC's symposium in October 2018 to the latest community-based committee to look into further possible sites to qualify for landmarking, the HDC has established projects that will serve the Bronx community well."

Elena Martinez
City Lore, Folklorist
Bronx Music Heritage Center, Co-Artistic Director

Local Voices

"Welcome2TheBronx is grateful for the advocacy done by the Historic Districts Council on behalf of the people of The Bronx. Through their deep connections and understanding of the importance of preserving our local histories, The Bronx has been able to have several spotlights shown on endangered communities as gentrification creeps into the borough."

Ed García Conde,
founder and Executive Director,
Welcome2TheBronx