The stretch of Long Meadow beside the Picnic House is the best real estate in Prospect Park — flat, enormous, shaded at the edges, and a short walk from Park Slope's Third Street entrance — and an annual family day claims it for a full afternoon. It is the classic Brooklyn park scenario: coolers, folding chairs, music carrying across the grass, kids running the meadow. If you want an easy, free day out with a group of any size, this is the address.
What to expect
Expect an open meadow setup with a gathering area near the Picnic House and people spread out across the grass. The Long Meadow absorbs crowds without feeling packed, so there is always room to move a blanket. Restrooms are at the Picnic House itself, the playgrounds are a short walk, and the park's paths circle the whole area for strollers.
Good to know
- The Picnic House is on the west side of Prospect Park near the Third Street entrance in Park Slope.
- The F and G at Seventh Avenue and the 2 and 3 at Grand Army Plaza are both short walks.
- Bring a blanket or folding chairs — the Long Meadow is grass, with benches only at the edges.
- Restrooms are inside the Picnic House, one of the few reliable options on this side of the park.
- It is a free outdoor gathering in a public park, so come and go as you like.
- Shade sits at the tree line; the middle of the meadow gets full sun all day.
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Common questions
Where in Prospect Park is it?
On the lawn just north of the Picnic House, on the Long Meadow's western edge near the Third Street entrance.
Is it free?
Yes, it is an open gathering on public parkland.
Are there restrooms?
Yes — the Picnic House has restrooms, and they are the closest facilities to the event lawn.
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