Fallkill Trail in Prospect Park reopens after nearly three decades

The trail's centerpiece is the Fallkill Waterfall as part of a 'restored urban forest' for visitors to explore

Prospect Park is reopening a portion of the park that has been restricted for nearly 30 years.

Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for Fallkill Trail, an area near the “dog beach” that has been closed off for park goers since 1995. The trail’s centerpiece is the Fallkill Waterfall as part of a “restored urban forest” for visitors to explore.

“We have monitored how people are engaging with the park, and we adapt our uses to meet them where they are,” said Morgan Monaco, President of Prospect Park Alliance, in a release. “This new trail will invite visitors to explore a previously fenced area of the park and enjoy the beautifully restored landscape.”

Over the past year, volunteers have been beautifying and restoring the site by removing invasive plants and logs, planting new species and forging new paths for people.

That said, the man-made waterfall itself has been turned off due to constant rains in the area, according to The New York Times. It remains unclear at this point when the waterfall will be fully functional again. The park did not reveal a date.

Fallkill closed in 1995 due to lack of resources and subsequent disrepair, “often visited by fence-jumpers looking to get closer to the falls, resulting in trampling of the woodlands, litter and graffiti.” Park officials are optimistic that the reopening of the trail will help solve those problems and encourage “stronger stewardship” of the park.