Brooklyn Half Marathon Changes Course Through Prospect Park

The Brooklyn Half Marathon, helmed by the New York Road Runners, will change it’s course in Prospect Park on May 19 to accommodate nearly three times as many runners, and will charge a higher entry fee to pay for police presence, says the New York Times.

The race, which began in 1981, will now have runners starting on Washington Avenue near the Brooklyn Museum, before they run a loop around Grand Army Plaza and then head down Flatbush Avenue, across Parkside and into Prospect Park. In years past, the race included two loops around Prospect Park, the Times said. 

According to race officials, this is to prevent faster runners from lapping slower runners.

The article also says that the race will now cost runners $45 this year (up from $25), because the NYPD has decided to charge for traffic protection this year.

According to the Times, the Half Marathon will also start an hour earlier, at 7 a.m., , to be held in the park on May 19.

Registration for the Half Marathon begins at March 26 at noon. More details can be found on the Road Runners web site.