Spring has sprung in Brooklyn’s Backyard!
Brooklynites ushered in the start of the season in Prospect Park at an al-fresco fair on Saturday that boasted all the trappings of a great afternoon without one time-sucking setback that plagues other parties in the green space, according to a parent.
“It was one of the few family-style events that’s not mobbed with lines out the door,” said dad Josh Greenman, who attended the bash with his wife Nancy Mauro and their daughter Lola. “We had a really good time.”
Leaders of the Prospect Park Alliance — the conservancy that maintains the meadow in conjunction with the city — schedule the seasonal kick-off to coincide with the start of baseball in the park, but organizers called off this year’s annual little-league parade and ceremonial first pitch in anticipation of snow on Saturday that never came.
Canceling the day’s ball-related festivities wasn’t a big deal to local sports fans, however, because many little sluggers were still off on spring-break vacation, one coach said.
“We weren’t expecting a big turnout,” said Jordy Trelles, who heads the Brooklyn Angels softball team.
And the opening-day fair boasted plenty of other fun stuff to entertain guests, including games, books, and a steed named Apollo that left one tot star-struck, according to his father.
“He really enjoyed petting the horses,” Ben Vershbow said of his less than 1-year-old son, Dov. “One lady was saying he looked unimpressed, but he tends to be rather still when he’s processing new data.”
Spring in Brooklyn’s Backyard marks the return of such attractions as the Carousel — which is now open from 12 to 5 pm Thurs–Sat and on holidays through next winter — as well as daily boat and bicycle rentals near Prospect Park Lake, and weekend roller-skating at Dreamland Roller Disco at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside.
The hosts of Smorgasburg also brought the outdoor grub hub back to Prospect Park now that temperatures on the rise, and will stage the food festival featuring some 100 vendors in the meadow from 11 am to 6 pm every Sunday through October.
