Revamps Planned for Brooklyn Parks

New York City is launching a project to renovate public spaces, and several parks in Brooklyn are getting a makeover! The first three are to be Bartlett Playground and Pen Triangle in Williamsburg and Lewis Playground in Bed Stuy, with community meetings already being held to determine the next spots as well.

Batter Up in Prospect Park!

This is exciting news for baseball fans in the Brooklyn area. Fields 6 and 7 in Prospect Park are back and ready for use. All sorts of people were on hand to cut the ribbon including elected officials, little league players and park workers. Friday, they had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the two fields.

Now, the two field shave new dugouts with benches and water fountains. They have fresh fences and new infields.

As Eddie Albert, the President of the Prospect Park Baseball Association told Patch,

"When you have 194 teams, scheduling 194 teams every week is real chore, because the fields in most of Brooklyn are not really in great shape. Now that these fields can accommodate every size, from softball all the way out to hard ball, 90 feet, we have the flexibility to do so much more."

Learn all the details here and get ready for the next pitch!

Alexander Wang Fashion Show Comes to Brooklyn

Alexander Wang's Spring 2018 New York Fashion Week runway show is underway in Brooklyn! Top WangFest models include Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Bella Hadid.

Greenest Block in Brooklyn Announced in NYC

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn is a contest held by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. More than 20 years old, the competition measures the green-ness of all Brooklyn streets, and this year's winner was Stuyvesant Avenue. Nestled between Bainbridge and Chauncey, this block does not appear to be dramatically more green than any of its neighbors.

Nina Browne, community program manager at the botanic gardens, runs the contest and trains the judges each year. In a visit to Stuyvesant Ave. for the New York Times, Browne explained that a winning block's title comes from more than just its vegetation level; it comes from its citizen participation.

"It boils down to people more than plants," she says. "It's where you get that tangible sense of love. Which block felt the most unified? Where is that sense of community really most palpable? That's urban resilience right there."

"It's really about people power," she added. "It's a testament to what people can do, despite not having dirt to dig in."

Stuyvesant Ave. block captain Serge Vatel explained that the communal goal is "to set the bar for the entire Stuyvesant Heights."

"It's our lobby," he added. "It's the gateway to our neighborhood-- the first block people see on their way to work in the morning. It's like a watermark for our neighborhood: It tells everyone, new and old, 'This is our standard of leaving.'"

Newfound Love: Naomi Campbell and Louis C. Camilleri

In recent celebrity news, Naomi Campbell has been secretly dating Louis C. Camilleri, the Maltese-Egyptian CEO of tobacco company Philip Morris International and director of Ferrari. Worth over $192 million, the 62-year-old business mogul apparently shares a love for Formula One with the 47-year-old supermodel, who also attended the grand prix races.  

Though both are generally rather close-mouthed about their personal lives, the pair has become a bit more public about their relationship over the last few weeks. 

A source revealed that “Naomi and Louis have been secretly dating for weeks,” according to The Sun. “They’re all over each other when they’re out. Naomi likes to keep her relationships private and it is early days, but there’s a real spark between them. Their close friends are aware they’re dating.”

Until now, the lovebirds have managed to avoid public scrutiny by meeting secretly via private jet. They have also rendezvoused at various locations throughout Europe, and have been spotted dining in some of London’s restaurants.

Island Escape at Trendy Brooklyn Bar

If the Brooklyn heat is getting you down, you don’t need to look far for an island respite. A Tropical Bar called the Diamond Reef is making a splash in NYC with an outdoor Island-themed patio complete with tiki torches, fairy lights and cocktails. Opened by the owners of cocktail lounge Attaboy in March, this downplayed venue is easy to go to and easy to like. 

Island getaway

Decorated with tropical print wallpaper, wood panels, glass bricks and teal accents, the bar sets a true contrast to its surroundings: the Bedford-Stuyvesant industrial zone. Background music, patio furniture and a wide selection of craft beers successfully provide an immediate getaway without much effort.

All mixed up

Throughout the day the Diamond Reef offers a fun family experience with space for children to run around, while at night the pace winds down to compliment the Reef’s famous drinks, which include the frozen slushy ‘Penichillin’, the ‘Booze and Juice’ and the ‘Spicy Flamingo’. The crowd is mixed, a healthy combo of hipsters and suits all there to enjoy the summer-y atmosphere.

Dome Park Entering Phase II of Planned Upgrade

Infamously known as one of “Brooklyn’s worst basketball courts,” the court, located in Dome Playground between Kensington and Williamsburg, is about to lose its negative title.

As Phase II of the park’s renovations gets underway, both the basketball and handball courts on the eastern side of the park are getting complete makeovers.

The Parks Department timeline expects the work to be done by April 2018. The park’s eastern side is near the intersection of Dahill and Courtelyou Roads.

The decrepit nature of the basketball court was first revealed citywide when Wall Street Journal reporter Stu Woo biked around town for two weeks in 2015 checking out the state of Brooklyn’s courts. Ranking them best to worst, Dome Park’s courts came in number 143 out of 172 total courts in the borough, known for its rapid gentrification and general improvement of facilities.

"This triangular-shaped park has a full court and two half courts, all filled with bad paint and worse cracks," wrote Woo in his article.

Phase II, which is also the last phase of the renovations, also includes the addition of accessible ramps, an adult fitness zone, a rebuilt park entrance, new benches, better lighting, improved gardens, and an easy to reach water fountain.