Long-Term Urban Park Ecological Restoration: A Case Study of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York

Abstract

While offering ecological, recreational, and cultural value, urban woodlands are under intense pressure from their many human visitors and require restorative management to continue to provide these functions. Since park construction in the 1860s, the 95.5 hectares of woodlands in Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY) have experienced the pressures of human use, and were rather degraded by the mid-1980s. Since the early 1990s, Prospect Park’s managers have actively implemented a woodland restoration program that serves as a model for long-term urban restoration. The program has included removing invasive plants, stabilizing eroding soils, planting native vegetation, and redirecting the flow of visitors through the woodlands with improved trails and fences. While initial capital restoration projects were an important component, the true strength of the plan has been the employment of a diverse and dedicated staff—supported by dedicated funding—practicing adaptive management and restoration in Prospect Park’s woodlands. Despite a trend to restore woodlands through capital projects on a limited timeline, managers found that restoration would only be successful with a long-term commitment and continual, incremental restoration work. Given the constant stresses on our urban woodlands, management is needed in perpetuity to maintain a healthy forest in the heart of the city. This article addresses the extent of the managers’ commitment to a restoration program, assesses progress, and attempts to look towards future management needs.