The Grecian Shelter is the most architecturally grand and least appreciated structure in Prospect Park: a McKim, Mead & White limestone colonnade from 1905 standing at the Parade Ground end, built as a shelter for people arriving at the park and now used mostly for exactly this kind of gathering. A fourth annual event means the day has a rhythm and a returning crowd. If you want to see a genuinely beautiful piece of Brooklyn used the way it was intended, come to something held under it.
What to expect
Head for the colonnade at the park's southern end, near the Parade Ground, and find the setup under and around the shelter. Expect food, games and activities spread across the shelter and adjacent lawn, with a crowd that treats the space as a covered pavilion. The shelter's columns give real shade, which is rare in this part of the park.
Good to know
- F or G to 15th St-Prospect Park, or the B, Q or S to Prospect Park, then walk to the southern end
- The Grecian Shelter offers genuine shade, unusual for the park's southern lawns
- Bring a blanket if you want lawn seating outside the colonnade
- Restrooms are near the Parade Ground side of the park
- The Parade Ground's ballfields are adjacent for anyone with energy to burn
- Weather-dependent, though the shelter provides cover from sun and light rain
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Common questions
What is the Grecian Shelter?
A 1905 limestone colonnade by McKim, Mead & White at the southern end of Prospect Park, also known as the Peristyle.
Where in Prospect Park is it?
At the park's southern end, near the Parade Ground and the Parkside Avenue side.
Is there shade?
Yes — the colonnade itself provides real cover, which is unusual for this part of the park.
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