Flatbush Malls facts for kids
The Flatbush Malls are special green spaces found in the middle of some roads in the Victorian Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. Think of them as long, narrow parks right in the street, often lined with trees. They make the streets look much wider and more beautiful.
Contents
What are the Flatbush Malls?
These unique green areas are called "malls" because they are like long, open walkways or promenades. They are actually medians, which are strips of land that divide a road into two parts. In Flatbush, these medians are beautifully landscaped with plants and trees. One person who writes about buildings said these malls give the streets a "spaciousness," meaning they make the area feel very open and grand.
The First Flatbush Malls
How They Started
The very first Flatbush Malls were built in 1899. They are located in the northern part of the neighborhood, mainly along Albemarle Road. They also extend one block north on Buckingham Road. These malls were part of a new housing development called Prospect Park South. They are found east of Coney Island Avenue and west of the BMT Brighton Line (a subway line).
Inspired by Boston
The design for these first malls was created by a Scottish landscape architect named John Aiken. He got his idea from the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston. Originally, the Flatbush Malls were planned to have shrubbery (bushes) but no trees. However, they likely inspired the other similar green spaces that were built later in the neighborhood.
The Midwood Malls
Another Green Series
A second group of these green spaces, also known as the Midwood Malls, was built a few years later in 1905. These are in the southern part of the neighborhood. You can find them along Glenwood Road, east of Coney Island Avenue and west of Delamere Place. They are also on East 17th Street, which crosses Glenwood Road. This part of the malls is north of the Long Island Railroad tracks (Bay Ridge Branch) and south of Foster Avenue. These malls were part of the Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park developments.
Changes and Care
Past Changes
Some parts of the malls on Glenwood Road, especially those extending towards Flatbush Avenue, were removed starting in 1932.
Special Street Ends
Both the Albemarle Road and Glenwood Road series of malls have cul-de-sacs (dead-end streets) near the Brighton Line subway tracks. The Glenwood Road series even has cul-de-sacs on both sides of the tracks and another one near the Long Island Railroad cut.
Traffic Safety
To help with traffic safety, All-way stops (intersections where all cars must stop) are installed on the Glenwood Road malls. Another one was added to the Albemarle Road malls because of worries about cars and people. There have also been discussions about making sure the plants and trees in the malls get enough water.
Who Takes Care of Them?
Even though the malls are owned by the New York City Department of Transportation (the city group that manages roads), they are looked after by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (the city group that manages parks). This is part of a partnership called Greenstreets, which helps keep the city green and beautiful.
