A brand new park just opened in Downtown Brooklyn

By Brooklyn Magazine Staff

There’s a new public park in Brooklyn that has been two decades in the making.

After a series of delays, Abolitionist Park, a 1.15-acre green space situated in Downtown Brooklyn, officially opened Wednesday, a small piece of a rehabilitation project for the area that was first announced in 2004.

Abolitionist Park (Photo courtesy of NYCEDC)

Located at 225 Duffield Street, near Jay Street-MetroTech subway stop, the park includes copious amounts of grass, multiple benches, a dog run, a playground for children (as well as a “waterplay” feature) and plantings that have come together to make a much-needed oasis for relaxation in the chaotic, construction-filled area.

The park is steps from 227 Duffield Street, the home of abolitionists Harriet and Thomas Truesdell from 1851 to 1863, and a stop in the Underground Railroad. The house, which was designated as a historical landmark in 2021 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, will become a larger part of the community, with the city announcing a “long-term strategy to honor” its history, according to a release.

“High-quality public spaces aren’t just a luxury — they’re a necessity, and they’re a key to our city’s economic recovery,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in the release. “Abolitionist Place will provide Downtown Brooklyn with that vital community space while also paying tribute to the role that this neighborhood played in the Abolitionist Movement.”

Work isn’t done yet: Art installations honoring the movement will be added in 2026. One piece is called “True North – Every Negro is a Star,” which provides an “immersive leap into the point of view of the Africans,” a release said. It will be a perforated steel dome that gives the appearance of stars shimmering through it, according to Brownstoner.

The park is open seven days a week, but is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.