Mount Prospect Park’s fresh-cut grass, pine-scented trees and open fields are poised for a major transformation under a proposed $11.1 million skatepark project. The initiative, led by The Skatepark Project in partnership with city officials, aims to bring a new recreational hub - dubbed the Brooklyn Skate Garden - to the heart of the park.

The project is designed to expand access to skating and wheeled sports, particularly for young people. For residents like Katie, a local parent, the addition is a welcome one.

“I have a seven-year-old kiddo who loves wheels and being on places,” she said. “And I think just having more spaces to encourage that, and for folks to express themselves without risk of arrest—is great.”

Plans for the Brooklyn Skate Garden include nearly 9,000 square feet of greenery alongside ramps, rails, a bowl and upgraded pavement. It will be one of four new skateparks planned citywide, reflecting a broader push to invest in recreational infrastructure.

But not everyone is convinced the project strikes the right balance.

Some parkgoers argue the cost is too high, not just financially, but environmentally. Kalila Jaeger, who frequents the park, supports expanding recreational opportunities but worries about losing precious green space.

“I’m all for building more recreational space,” Jaeger said. “I just feel like we live in a city that’s made of concrete - would love for there to be a solution where we make more green space, not less.”

Concerns extend beyond aesthetics. Park advocates warn the 19,500-square-foot project, which has been approved by Community Board 8, could create a heat island effect and threaten more than 30,000 trees in and around the park.

“These trees have been growing for decades,” said Hayley Gorenberg, president of Friends of Mount Prospect Park. “Running construction machinery through them and cutting through their roots, it’s an outrageous risk.”

Gorenberg and other advocates say the long-term ecological impact could outweigh the benefits of the new facility, and they’re urging the city to reconsider aspects of the plan.

“The amazing, diverse community that loves this park and relies on it is not giving up and not going away,” she added.

Despite the opposition, the Brooklyn Skate Garden project is moving forward into its next phase, with groundbreaking expected soon.

As construction approaches, advocacy groups are making it clear they intend to continue voicing their concerns, setting the stage for an ongoing debate over how best to balance recreation and preservation in one of Brooklyn’s cherished green spaces.