Who would have thought, that the longest meadow in any United States park, unbroken and measuring in at just about a mile long, would be located in the urban metropolis of New York City. One may think you would find that in say…Nebraska, or Montana, but it called “The Meadow” and it runs along a stretch of land in Prospect Park. This is a world of nature that offers people living their day to day city lives, going to business meetings, surviving taxi cab rides, a bit of peace and serenity.
That too, can be found in the quiet of a best Manhattan hotel room, but sometimes what is needed is the smell of nature, of trees and flowers, and open space. The Meadow begins at the North end of Prospect Park, and continues, winding through to the Southwestern section. At one time, the “lawn mowers” were the grazing goats and sheep, and many people of the borough came here to play croquet and lawn tennis. Now days, many find peace in this area of the park either taking picnics, long afternoon walks, flying kits or playing Frisbee.
This area of the park was designed in the early part of the 1900′s, and by the end of that decade, much of the park, not just the Meadow, was in need of restoration. Along with the projects happening throughout the 1990′s, with the help of the community and the Prospect Park Alliance, this section was revamped. The paths were reconstructed and two hundred thousand dollars was spent on the care of the landscaping and the groves of trees. Each year now, new trees are being planted on a regular basis and the Meadow is returning to its former glory. It is once again, one of the places that New Yorkers seek refuge, and a bit of relaxation and fun, away from the hectic bustle of one of the world’s busiest of metropolitan cities.
