Have you heard of the Seven Wonders of the World? Inspired by the original Seven Wonders of the Acient World, each year there’s a competition to name the new Seven Wonders, which are announced on 07/07. The Statue of Liberty was one of the 21 finalists in the last round of nominations, but ultimately, it didn’t make the final cut. The current Seven Wonders are Chichén Itzá, China Great Wall, Colosseum, Cristo Redentor, Machu Picchu, Petra, and the Taj Mahal.
This got me thinking. If you were to name “Seven Wonders of [Your Town/City/Neighborhood],” what would you pick? Here’s my selection for the Seven Wonders of Park Slope…
Prospect Park
One of the best things to do in Park Slope is to hang out in Prospect Park. This 508-acre park has a lot to offer, from ice skating to pedal boating to birding to picnicking. There are several concerts and performing arts festivals at the Bandshell throughout the summer, including Celebrate Brooklyn! The park is also home to the nation’s first urban Audubon Center (top photo), the Prospect Park Zoo, a 60-acre lake, a private Quaker cemetery, several historic bridges, and Brooklyn’s only forest.
Park Slope Food Co-op
The famous member-owned and operated Park Slope Food Co-op opened in 1973. It’s the largest co-op of its kind in the United States, with over 17,000 socially conscious members who work a shift every six weeks and have a voice in shaping and enforcing the Co-op’s policies. The politics of the Co-op are often covered by major media outlets like The New York Times and The New Yorker.
Grand Army Plaza
One of the most iconic landmarks in Brooklyn, Grand Army Plazza is the main entrance to Prospect Park. Known for its Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch and Bailey Fountain, the 14-acre plaza is also a popular site for political protests and rallies for social justice. The second-largest open-air green market in New York City is at Grand Army Plaza every Saturday, where you can find fruits, vegetables, baked goods, dairy products, fresh-cut flowers, art, and more from local farmers and artisans.
Central Library, Brooklyn Public Library
The Central Library, the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, has so much to offer. It holds over a million cataloged books, magazines, and multimedia materials, and hosts various events throughout the year, including CPR courses, chess workshops, storytime, and fitness classes. Located at Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway on Grand Army Plaza, nearly 1.5 million people visit the Central Library each year.
Old Stone House
The Old Stone House, located on Third Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, is a beautiful historic building in Park Slope. It’s a reconstruction of the 1699 Vechte-Cortelyou House, and the site marks where the counterattack against the British occurred during the Battle of Brooklyn in the Revolutionary War. It also commemorates the birthplace of the Brooklyn Dodgers. If you have little ones, the popular J. J. Byrne Playground is steps from the Old Stone House.
“Water is the Life of NYC” Mural
“Water is the Life of NYC” is a striking four-story illustration that follows the process of NYC’s drinking water. Lead artist Nicole Schulman, assistant artist Crystal Bruno, and 14 young people, ages 14-21, created the mural as part of the Groundswell Community Mural Project. Head to 209 Fourth Avenue between Union and Sackett Streets to check it out.
Historic Churches, Old First Reformed Church
The Old First Reformed Church is one of Park Slope’s numerous historic churches. It’s located on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street, and the current building, which was erected in 1889, is the fourth on this site. It recently underwent a $10 million renovation to repair its limestone exterior, 212-foot Gothic spire, stained glass windows, chandelier, organ, oil mural “The Empty Tomb” by the late-19th-century artist Virgilio Tojetti, as well as other features of the building. St. John’s Episcopal Church and Brooklyn Memorial Presbyterian Church are two other historic churches in this area of Park Slope.
If you feel like it, share your town/city/neighborhood’s Seven Wonders in the comments. If you live in Park Slope, what are thoughts on my picks? What would you to add/take off?
PS. In 2017, Dan and I went to Oregon and visited two 7 Wonders of Oregon, the Painted Hills and Smith Rock. Here’s the recap of our Oregon trip.
(Audubon Center photo by Kelley MacDonald. Prospect Park photo by John Weiss. Co-op and Grand Army Plaza photos by Wally Gobetz. Central Library photo by Susan De Vries. Old Stone House photo by Bob Levine. Old First photo by Michelle Young for Untapped Cities.)