Fort Greene Park is For Everyone
IT’S YOUR PARK
Fort Greene Park is for everyone.*
Let’s share it by being mindful of how we all show up and what we leave behind.
Please take a minute to think about what you do in the park and what your loved ones, like your pets and kids, do too. What you do—and don’t do—affects others in the park!
Who is “everyone”?
Most park users live or work in Fort Greene and the surrounding neighborhoods, or visit from other areas in Brooklyn and the boroughs.
Taken as a whole, the 2020 Census documents that Fort Greene is a very racially and economically diverse neighborhood. Yet when broken down into census tracts, the data reveals the neighborhood to be segregated, with Fort Greene Park as the divider—or the connector, depending on your perspective. The population of the census tracts in Fort Greene is 35,594. Over 12,000 residents live in public housing north of the park. Households in this area have a median income of $54,900 and 83% of residents north of the park identify as BIPOC. In stark contrast, households in the areas south, west and east of Fort Greene park have a median income of $148,205 and 55.5% of residents identify as BIPOC. See the data for the census tracts comprising Fort Greene below, and how the demographics have changed since the 2010 census:
Because of these disparities within the neighborhood, and how the demographics have changed, it takes extra effort to build and sustain social cohesion in the park. Being aware of any privileges—racial, economic, able-bodied, and other—you have and how they relate to your behavior in the park is a good way to contribute positively to its community of users.
Did you know that dog ownership is limited for some community members? New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has a pet policy that does not allow dogs over 25 pounds. That means that a major percentage of Fort Greene residents are restricted from having medium or large dogs. Residents of NYCHA developments are also required to keep their dogs on-leash at all times, even on the grounds.
Did you know that 11% of Fort Greene residents have disabilities that may prevent them from riding a bike? Many of these residents use the park despite the challenges of navigating hilly and heavily-trafficked pathways. Planned capital improvements will address ADA accessibility in the coming years.
Both dogs and bikes are welcome in Fort Greene Park. They bring joy and health benefits to their owners and beyond. We hope that dog and bike owners can recognize that a large portion of the park’s community may feel unsafe around untrained/uncontrolled dogs and fast-moving bikes in the park.
Some in Fort Greene have neither dogs nor bikes but most of us have some privileges. What you do—and don’t do—affects whether or not other community members feel like they belong in the park!
Additional Resources
Learn how to Share the Park.
Explore and geek out on demographic data with the City’s Pop Fact Finder!
Want to learn more about the neighborhood and how it’s changed? Join our Black History and Culture of Fort Greene tour.
Join Young Naturalists for curious kids here.
Read and share the rules for dogs in parks here.
Learn and share best practices for training dogs here.
*Well, technically, it’s a public space owned by the City of New York and mapped as parkland. NYC Parks operates and maintains the park in partnership with us, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. All of our communal volunteer hours, tax dollars, and donations provide the support necessary for its ongoing care.