HW November 10th, 2011

Chapter 3, "Prospect Park: Diversity at Risk"


Prospect Park, a pastoral landscape 526 acre park, is located in northern Brooklyn. It is extremely culturally diverse with whites, blacks, hispanics, and many other ethic groups visiting on a regular basis. It was built between 1867 and 1873 by the Protestant ministers of the fast and growing Brooklyn during that time.

The park is a large site for cultural expression including music. There is an officially sponsored diverse pop music concert program. On Sundays, there is a drumming phenomenon that takes place on the east side of the park. Most of the drumming rhythms reflect African rhythms - Nigerian, Haitian, and some of Afro-Brazillian variety.

The data in this chapter reflects the values of users in the park and the activities they do. It also break it down by race to see who comes to the park to do what activity. Many of the Blacks and Hispanics come to the park in big groups to do activities together. Many whites come to enjoy the nature and wildlife of the park as a refuge from the city. The racial and cultural issues are clearly known in Prospect park. The west side of the park is a lot nicer than the east side. It is more well-kept and clean. The white population is usually on the west side. The east side usually consists of hispanics and blacks. The different races feel safer on their "side" of the park. The blacks and hispanics feel out of place and uncomfortable when they go to the west side, and the whites feel unsafe and uncomfortable when they go to the east side.