Play Ball!: Prospect Park Baseball Fields Reopen After Renovations

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, NY — All seven of Prospect Park's ballfields are ready for spring and summer games after getting facelifts.

Long Meadow ballfields two and three in Prospect Park reopened just in time for Spring at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The reopening of fields two and three marks the end of years-long restoration efforts to all seven of the park's ballfields, according to Prospect Park Alliance.

“I'm excited to say 'play ball' once again on the newly restored Long Meadow Ballfields, thanks to the hard work of the Prospect Park Alliance. Investing in our parks and recreational spaces is a necessity for the health and well-being of our communities,” Comptroller Brad Lander said in a news release.

The fields got new clay infields, paved pathways, new benches and drinking fountains and upgraded dugouts with storage bins and shading. City personnel also installed new drainage systems and reseeded the fields to keep the them healthy year-round.

“This was not simply renovation, it was smart renovation. By turning the diamonds into all clay infields with improved drainage, grooming the fields for play will be easier and more games will be played. By resizing the clay infields, all ages will have greater access to play,” said Eddie Albert, President of Prospect Park Baseball Association.

The renovation of the two ballparks cost over $1.5 million, primarily funded by former New York City Council Member Brad Lander and former Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to Prospect Park Alliance.

Renovation plans for Prospect Park's baseball fields started in 2011, according to Prospect Park Alliance. The Long Meadow ballfields are also slated to get new lights on the pathway that connects Center Drive at the Nethermead meadow to the fields.

The bridge connecting Long Meadow to the Ravine is also slated for a renovation by 2025. Pedestrian paths leading to Long Meadow from Prospect Park West will see upgrades by 2025, as will the Tennis House near the park's 9th Street Entrance.

"The restoration of the final two Long Meadow Ballfields mark the conclusion of an important improvement to Brooklyn's Backyard," Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco said in a news release. "These fields are vital recreational amenities for all of Brooklyn, serving thousands of youth each year."