Grand Army Plaza.
On the corner of Prospect Park, a plaza is surrounded by Greco-Roman monuments and magnificent places to visit, with a centerpiece, a great arch, lying in the middle of the plaza acts as the doorway to the park. Grand Army Plaza was built to commemorate the Union’s victory in the American Civil War, and it demonstrates Brooklyn’s heritage of beauty, values and masterful construction.
Grand Army Plaza was meant to be a cornerstone of the Prospect Park plan to be the grand entrance to the leisurely space
An arch in honor of the Union army was built, giving the Grand Army Plaza its title, and other notable monuments surround the area
The area is lively with a weekly flea market, comfortable entrance to the park and engaging attractions in the vicinity
The idea to build a plaza began in 1867 with the purpose of being the main entrance to Prospect Park. The plaza was designed by Calvert Vaux and the Commission was led by James Stranahan. It would act as a buffer from the noise and turmoil of Downtown Brooklyn [1]. The plaza would be built as an ellipse with a grand entrance to the park from the corner, the start of Eastern Parkway and contain a fountain in the middle. The original fountain was called “Fountain of the Golden Spray.” A statue of Abraham Lincoln, which was later moved to the interior of Prospect Park, was placed the head of the plaza [4]. However, although the Plaza was a success its first few years, it became mostly barren over time until the construction of more monuments and buildings in the area.
The first major structure built was the impeccable arch in the plaza called the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument which opened in 1892. This monument is like the Arc de Triomphe of Brooklyn, as it was built to commemorate the heroes of the Civil War who gave their lives to bring victory to the Union states. This is when the name, Grand Army Plaza, became relevant. The great arch contains depictions of Lincoln and Grant, leaders of the Union Army, and a statue of “Columbia” upon a chariot at the top. Various beautiful additions were constructed over the next couple decades [2].
In the 1910s, subway lines were installed underneath the plaza, and as a result, the original fountain was replaced. The new fountain, Bailey Fountain, named after the patron, was completed in 1932. The fountain homes a sculpture of a man and woman holding a baby with a cornucopia. They are standing on a boat depicting Neptune with a trident [1]. Later on, a bust of John F. Kennedy was placed at the head of the plaza in 1965 as memorial to the assassinated president. A quote is written on the monument: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” [3].
Nowadays, the Plaza is lively and there are many places to see in the vicinity. It is surrounded by the old neighborhoods of Park Slope and Prospect Heights with classical apartment buildings and brownstones. Around the corner, a short walk away, one can visit the Brooklyn Museum, another masterful building in itself, the Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo, and the Central Brooklyn Public Library with Egyptian facades and immense interior. Down Flatbush Avenue, there is even an arena, Barclays Center, that hosts concerts and sporting events. And of course, as a stylish entrance, one can walk into Prospect Park. On Sundays, a large flea market sets up camp along the Plaza grounds where visitors may find farm foods, antiques and clothing.
By Nick Borak
Places to Visit
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an epic classical building with rich content and host occasional events for the community and organizations.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Botanic Garden, next to the museum, is also a notable attraction with a plethora of plants on display.
Prospect Park Zoo
A small zoo within the park with interactive exhibits. Great for young kids.
Central Brooklyn Public Library
The largest public library in Brooklyn, the Central Library is an Egyptian-style building with many books and is worth viewing.
Brooklyn Flea Market
Recently, Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg launched a market at Grand Army Plaza regularly on Sundays from 10am to 5pm. A shopper can find produce, antiques and clothing in the market.
For more information, visit Prospect Park Alliance website:
https://www.prospectpark.org/news-events/news/brooklyn-flea-comes-grand-army-plaza/
Barclays Center
A recently built arena, Barclays Center is home to the Brooklyn Nets and hosts many top performances throughout the year.
Sources
GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS FROM
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
[1] Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn. New York City. Aviewoncities.com. 9 June 2018.
http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/brooklyngrandarmyplaza.htm
[2] Grand Army Plaza. Grand Army Plaza. NYC Parks. Nycgovparks.org. 9 June 2018.
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/grand-army-plaza/history
[3] John F. Kennedy Memorial. Grand Army Plaza. NYC Parks. Nycgovparks.org. 10 June 2018.
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/grand-army-plaza/monuments/854
[4] Long “Lost” Abraham Lincoln Statue To Return To Grand Army Plaza. A Walk in the Park. Blog. 13 June 2018.
http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2010/11/long-lost-abraham-lincoln-statue-to.html
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