
Hochul Commits $4 Million to Restore Prospect Park Lake as Brooklyn Braces for Heavier Storms
Governor Kathy Hochul announced $4 million in state funding on September 24, 2026, to finish restoring Prospect Park Lake, Brooklyn’s only lake. The money goes toward a $25 million project that will add ADA-accessible paths, improve water quality, reduce flooding in nearby neighborhoods and expand wildlife habitat. Key Takeaways The $4 million covers the final phases of the Prospect Park Alliance’s Lakeshore Restoration Master Plan, a project with a total cost of $25 million. Planned work includes reducing roadway pavement along Wellhouse Drive, rebuilding the bridle trail with stormwater infrastructure and replacing asphalt with rain gardens. The Alliance’s schedule calls for design completion in 2026, Phase 1 construction in 2027-28 and Phase 2 in 2028-29. Prospect Park draws more than 10 million visits a year, and roughly 370,000 Brooklynites live in the surrounding area. The 60-acre lake is getting its first significant shoreline restoration since it was built. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York


































