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Monday, May 19, 2008

The Hills Are Alive in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Rabbit on a Leash, Prospect Park
Photo by myself, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

On our way over to the Brooklyn Museum of Art on Saturday, Mark and I passed by a fellow walking his pet, a long-eared rabbit, on a leash.

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Many people have heard of Central Park, that many acre-ed space in the middle of Manhattan, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.

Until this weekend, Mark and I hadn't really seen Prospect Park, another Olmstead park, in Brooklyn. We were surprised by how enormous the place was. (According to Wikipedia, Prospect Park is 585 acres large, compared to Central Park's 840+ acres).

Less manicured than Central Park and without the backdrop of tall buildings, Prospect Park rambles on and on. We walked by Little League games for kids of all ages, from teens to little ones who must have been around 5 or 6 years old.

Prospect Park, Brooklyn

There were couples sprawled out on the rolling lawns, people walking their dogs, people walking their rabbits (!), people throwing birthday parties at picnic tables complete with balloons and kites, people tending barbeques.

We exited the park to find a farmer's market in Grand Army Plaza, another Olmstead design. There were stalls offering homemade goat cheeses, baguettes, maple syrup and all else.

Mark and I wound up having a wonderful picnic lunch. We'll soon be back!

Baseball

Lower photo by Mark, of the Little League games at Prospect Park.

Related posts: Out Getting Some Air and Keeping Your Dogs in a Row.

17 comments:

Jilly said...

Too cute! I've heard of people walking rabbits but never actually seen one. Nice shot. Wonder if the rabbit eats the grass - guess so.

Patrizia said...

I never saw a persona walking a rabbit!!!! It looks funny .. but isn't the rabbit afraid of noises and people?

Fredrik said...

Great post and pictures!
It's nice to be back at normal assignment flow again. Lately I've been practically buried in work. You know how it gets. Surfing the internet has not been a priority. I can see you have evolved the last weeks. IT's agreat feeling, right? What do you think of your new camera so far? Did it live up to the expectations?

Anonymous said...

I never saw a rabbit on a leash before this. Wonderful for the rabbit I would guess. He or she probably never saw outdoors in its life. I have heard of your parks and the park's designer. I think it was wise thinking that saved the land and used it for that purpose. Nice photography.

Anonymous said...

What an oasis in the city! It's such a harbinger of spring, people coming out for games, for picnics, and for walks...

I especially like your photo of the trees with the meandering trunks!

Anonymous said...

Oh, forgot to mention... for years, every time we visited Baltimore's Inner Harbor, we spotted the same man walking a gigantic rabbit on a leash on the green lawn by the harbor. Guess there must be one in every city!

Carolyn said...

It always amazes me to see pictures of Parks in New York. It is such a contrast. Big, Busy City and then wide open spaces.

Carolyn

Kitty said...

Hi Jilly
We were shocked by the rabbit. I liked the harness in particular.

We asked the fellow, who said the rabbit prefers to eat hay, lol.

Hi Patrizia
The rabbit was surprisingly calm. You'd think he'd be hiding everywhere, but he was hopping about, sniffing at various patches. Strange, eh?

Thanks Fredrik!
Congrats on being so busy!

I really like the 40D but only use it on weekends so far. I think I still need to learn exactly how to take a good photo with it. I'm getting better at tweaking the photo afterwards, which is just as important.

It's surprising how long it takes to become really in tune with a camera!

Hi Mr Lincoln
We are definitely grateful for the parks. For most, they are our backyards and summer getaways.

Hi Spandrel
Oh my goodness on the other rabbits. Yknow there's a daschund convention every year in Washington Square Park, which I'll have to attend. I can just imagine a long-eared rabbit convention.

Hi Carolyn
Yep, the city is a place of extremes. I guess that's better than one monotonous thing?

Sid said...

People walking their rabbits. Okay now I NEED a rabbit of my own.

Olivier said...

j'aime beaucoup (mais je crois que j'aime tout à NYC) Prospect Park, je le trouve plus sauvage que Central Park et il y a le sublime brooklyn botanic garden. Et puis avec un peu de chance on peut rencontrer Paul Auster qui habite a coté.
I like a lot (but I think I love all NYC) Prospect Park, I find that most wild Central Park and there is the sublime brooklyn botanic garden. And then with a little luck we can meet Paul Auster who lives nearby.

Mom Knows Everything said...

Walking a rabbit, that is too cool! It's nice that people really seem to care about their animals.

The D in D & T said...

and i thought a cat on a leash was impressive! what a cute little guy. my sister had one of these and he was the most loyal little thing. wasnt scared of anything either - just really curious :)

Kitty said...

Hi Sid
I'd love a rabbit. They look so cuddly. I have a feeling my cat would like one, too.

Hi Olivier
You know NY so well!
Yes, the Botanic Garden is right next door. It's lovely but not free, like Prospect Park.

I love Paul Auster!!!! How funny?

Hi Tammy
I think people tend to have pets here rather than kids. Just my theory!

Hi D
Amazing that they aren't skittish? I thought all small herbivores were defensive.

Mab said...

Great photo,like the fact that the rabbit gets to wander in lovely green areas,bet he likes it too.He has a vibrant harness on also,wonder if he walks there often,it'd be funny if he met other rabbit walkers :)

Kitty said...

Thanks Mab
It'd be brilliant if they met other rabbits. Apparently they enjoy going to the dog run where there are special fenced in areas for small dogs.
The owner was great to pose the rabbit for us.

Anonymous said...

oh gosh, that's amazing. I've never seen anyone walking a rabbit before. Perhaps I should try taking my guinea pig out??? Actually he doesn't really have a neck so I can't see how I would get a leash to stay on!

The park looks wonderful. I love parks. Mostly because I enjoy people watching.

Casas do Barlavento said...

What a unique idea ... to walg a rabbit in a park. In my case I wonder if the Retrievers don't think in retrieving the nice rabbit.

The articles are great and very easy to read.