The Long Meadow is the closest thing Brooklyn has to a shared backyard, and a field day is exactly what that mile of grass was built for — relay lines, circles of people stretching, a cooler under a tree. This one takes the Garfield Place lawn near Prospect Park West, a five-minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance and easy to fold into a park day you were having anyway. If you want a low-commitment Brooklyn afternoon outdoors, wander over and see what's set up.
What to expect
Look for a marked-off stretch of lawn near the Garfield Place entrance with groups running games, plus the ordinary Long Meadow chaos of dogs, picnic blankets and pickup soccer all around it. The organized portion is a permitted gathering, so activities are geared to the group that booked it — but the meadow itself stays open, and there is plenty of room to spread out nearby.
Good to know
- The 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza and the F or G to 15th St-Prospect Park both put you a short walk from the Long Meadow
- There is no shade in the middle of the meadow — claim a spot near the tree line if you plan to stay a while
- Bring water; the nearest fountains are by the Picnic House and Third Street playground
- The Long Meadow paths are paved and flat, which makes this one of the more stroller- and wheelchair-friendly corners of the park
- This is a permitted group event, so the games are for its participants — the surrounding meadow stays open to everyone
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Common questions
Where exactly is the Garfield lawn?
It's the section of the Long Meadow just inside the Garfield Place entrance on Prospect Park West, toward the northern end of the meadow near Grand Army Plaza.
Can I just show up?
The Long Meadow is public and free to enter. The field day itself is a permitted group gathering, so joining the organized games depends on the group hosting it.
Is there anywhere to buy food nearby?
Not inside that stretch of the meadow. Seventh and Fifth Avenues in Park Slope are a few blocks west and have plenty of options to grab before you go in.
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