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| Building Projects in the Park |
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NYC Parks' Requirements Contracts division has begun a reconstruction project of the basketball court and surrounding landscape on the Myrtle Avenue side of Fort Greene Park. In addition to replacing the basketball court, the project will include adult fitness equipment, new pavement and benches. as well as the construction of an ornamental garden at the entrance at Myrtle and North Portland. The project was funded by Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz.
A part of this work includes the installation of a new drinking fountain for dogs, and humans, with improved drainage in the center or the park. The drinking fountain was funded by City Council Member Letitia James. Construction work continued through the winter, with the plan to have the basketball court open and project complete by late spring 2009.
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| What's Going on in The Park Now? |
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In fall 2008, the fencing was removed from around the perimeter of the monument at the top of Fort Greene Park just in time for the grand Centennial Celebration of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument on Novermber 14, 2008. All scaffolding and netting was also removed. This phase the restoration project was complete, funded in part from donations to the Conservancy.
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Renovations included:
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- The monument itself was repointed and cleaned
- The bronze urn on the top is relighted as it was believed to have been previously (see photos of urn below)
- The monument column is now also lighted from below
- The plaza area around the monument underwent a major rennovation to be closer to the original design, replacing much of the lawn area with paving stones.
- New lamp posts and other lighting were installed throughout monument plaza.
- New park furniture, including benches, were installed
- The bronze eagles were brought back to their original homes (see article on the eagles)
- Parts of the Myrtle Aveneue stairs were repointed and cleaned
- The plaques on the monument will also be returned shortly
- Read the Conservancy Press Release on the restoration.
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| Recent Photos of the Ongoing Restoration: |
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The following images of the column and the urn were provided by Partnership for Parks in January 2007. Rarely do we get to see close-up images of the urn as well as the view from the top.
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About the Urn:
The solid bronze urn that sits on the top of the monument is being cleaned and restored. Originally the eight ton urn had an eternal flame which was lit by gas. As part of the restoration, the "flame" will be lit again, this time by fiber optic cable. A large part of the money for the project came from donations secured by the Conservancy.
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The monument in January 2007.
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View from the top looking Southeast towards DeKalb Avenue
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Situated on one of the highest points in the area, the 1908 Prison Ship Martyrs Monument featured a popular visitors viewing platform on top which offered marvelous panoramic views of bustling Brooklyn and Manhattan. The platform was accessible by both stairs and elevator. Iron staircases wrapped around the column interior, while the elevator shaft ran up the middle. The design of the elevator was unique in that all its mechanical gears and pulleys were installed below ground under the monument.
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Unfortunately, as Brooklyn and Manhattan expanded and grew taller with skyscrapers, the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument and it's view were soon eclipsed by more spectacular mad-made vistas, such as the Woolworth Building and the Williamsburgh Savings Bank (both had public viewing areas). By the early 1930s the viewing platform was all-but-forgotten. Sadly, after decades of neglect and decay the defunct elevator and all its parts were removed in the early 1970's and the below ground space was filled in with concrete.
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For more information on the urn click here to download a copy of the McKim, Mead & White construction blue prints in PDF. (1.7M)
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Photo by Kristen Benson,
May 1, 2007
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| Our Continuing Overall Restoration Goals: |
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- Recognition as a Flagship Park
- Repair and replacement of the core mechanical systems of the park itself, such as water, drainage, and lighting, which are outdated and in some cases insufficient and dangerous
- Major Relandscaping to bring the park closer to the designs of Olmsted and Vaux.
- Full restoration of the monument including reopening the observation platform, designed by McKim, Meade, and White. (First Phase was completed Fall 2008)
- Implementation of full 24 hour security and policing
- Increase capabilities of the Urban Park Rangers
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More Information:
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All contents copyright 2008, Fort Greene Park Conservancy Inc. All rights reserved.
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Contact the Conservancy for further information.
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The Fort Greene Park Conservancy, Inc.
85 South Oxford Street
Brooklyn, NY, 11217
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Website designed and hosted by weissmanconsulting.com, Brooklyn, NY. 11217
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Contact AbbyW for information and comments.
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