Construction is underway on Abolitionist Place, a 1.15-acre public park in Downtown Brooklyn. Designed by landscape designer Hargreave Jones, the plaza will feature lawns surrounded by winding pathways and seating, a playground, dog run, and memorial art honoring Brooklyn’s abolitionist history. The park was made possible through a $15 million allocation from The New York City Economic Development Corporation and was renamed from Willoughby Square Park in June 2021. The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) will be responsible for managing the art installations at the park, which is bound by Willoughby Street to the north, Albee Square West to the east, and Duffield Street to the west, and FXCollaborative‘s One Willoughby Square skyscraper to the south.
Recent photographs show crews forming the curving outlines of the park’s garden beds, lawns, and walkways. The site first opened to the public in 2019 as a temporary 15,000-square-foot pop-up park with artificial turf and wooden seating along the sidewalks facing Willoughby Street. This was eventually closed off as construction on Abolitionist Place began construction.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed was selected to design a public art installation featuring engraved text throughout the open space, as well as a free-standing structure inspired by the area’s abolitionist history. This work will be carried out in a partnership with the NYC DCLA’s Percent for Art program.
Abolitionist Place. Designed by Hargreaves Jones.
Abolitionist Place schematic plan. Designed by Hargreaves Jones.
The property is located in close proximity to a number of subways, including the 2 and 3 trains at the Hoyt Street station to the south; the B, Q, and R trains at the DeKalb Avenue station to the east; and the A, C, F, and R trains at the Jay Street-MetroTech station to the west. Across Albee Square West is a hub of food and retail destinations at City Point including Target, Trader Joe’s, and the DeKalb Market Hall.
Abolitionist Place is slated for completion this fall.
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This is a great park in the right place.
It’s kind of shocking to go back to 2011 street view and see how this area has completely changed. Too many lost architectural gems, and it keeps happening.
Incredible park in this location. Does anyone know how the city ends up with this valuable land to do this ?
I think some sort of deal that was done way back with the 2004 downtown rezoning that allowed skyscrapers that were supposed to be for office space , but turned into a residential rezoning instead.
Great name, Great history !
I’ve been watching the city “build” this park for several years. They drag their feet and have gone slow. In the time they’ve still not completed this complex project multiple large buildings have been erected around this location. It’s a shame and tells a bad story about the city’s ability to build.