Welcome Back, Willoughby Avenue Entrance To Fort Greene Park!

It was a Christmas miracle! Late on Christmas Eve, the Willoughby Avenue entrance to Fort Greene Park reopened after over a year of construction and delays, and even more years of design and planning processes.

“It’s true!” “Yes!!!” “No way!” “My dog will be so excited!” “Finally!” — These were among the many declarations of surprise and delight we heard in response to the news and sight of the entrance’s steps all repaired and no longer surrounded by fencing.

“We couldn’t be happier that our neighborhood will be able to enjoy this gift for the holiday season. Talk about Christmas miracles,” exclaimed the Fort Greene Park Conservancy in an email announcement. “It’s ahead of schedule, too!”

However, the entrance is still only 90 percent complete. Next up: landscaping. As the Conservancy notes, “some of the perimeter fencing will stay up through early next year in order to help ensure new landscaping can establish.”

Planting of nearly 7,000 plants, shrubs, and trees has already begun. “The rain in the forecast should help our new residents take root,” wrote Helen Song, NYC Parks Community Advocate in November. “Of the 6000 ground cover plants, some species to keep a look out for are Cornus Canadensis (Bunchberry Dogwood), Liatris spicata (Blazing Star), Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox), Chelone glabra(White Turtlehead), and Huechera americana (American Alumroot).”

The entire project is still slated to be complete by spring/summer 2016.