Can you believe it’s been a year since Abolitionist Place opened? In that time, the park has grown into a hub of community and creativity. More than just a park, Abolitionist Place is a space for expression, connection, and celebration that honors history while also creating new traditions rooted in joy and togetherness. Let’s take a look back at its first remarkable year.
Abolitionist Place Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
On May 8, 2024, we joined NYCEDC and to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the grand opening of the new 1.15-acre public space. The park honors Brooklyn’s abolitionist history and fulfills a key commitment of the 2004 Downtown Brooklyn Redevelopment Plan. City and community leaders (including NYCEDC President Andrew Kimball, DBP President Regina Myer, DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Councilmember Lincoln Restler, and Community Board 2 Chair Lenny Singletary) celebrated the project’s completion. Watch our video on the opening.
Reading Room with StreetLab
In June, Abolitionist Place came alive with creativity and community during pop-up programming with Street Lab. Visitors of all ages enjoyed Reading Room, a free outdoor library offering a curated selection of books and a cozy space to read together, and Play!, a vibrant obstacle course complete with chalk mazes, racetracks, and colorful barriers. The event series also featured a special collaboration with WNYC for Our City, Our Stories, a series spotlighting local voices and shared experiences from across New York City. Watch our episode.
The design community meets at Abolitionist Place
Throughout its first year, Abolitionist Place was the setting to several Make It in Brooklyn Design Socials, a series created to strengthen connections within Downtown Brooklyn’s design community. The first event took place in May 2024 in partnership with FXCollaborative. Mary Margaret Jones of Hargreaves Jones led guests on a walking tour of the newly opened park, sharing insight into its evolving design process. Afterwards, attendees gathered for refreshments and networking on FX’s terrace, which offered stunning views of the park and skyline.
In July, the design community returned for Play in the Park, a summer social filled with lawn games like bocce and (plastic) axe throwing. Most recently, in April 2025, we celebrated Earth Month with another Design Social at the park, where FXCollaborative showcased their portfolio of ecologically sustainable architecture projects.
playdate Fest! with En Garde Arts
En Garde Arts brought playdate Fest!, an evening of socially charged musical theatre, to Abolitionist Place for the first time. Hosted by NYC-based hip-hop musician Baba Israel, the event saw local artists Samora la Perdida, Kuhoo Verma and Eisa Davis perform excerpts of their newest pieces.
Pride with puppies!
We ended Pride month last year by teaming up with City Point BKLYN, PUPS Pet Club, and GoodVets for a Pups Pride Parade. Locals brought their dogs in colorful costumes and rainbow bandanas, marched down the Abolitionist Place “runway,” took home puppy treats, and swagged out their fur with safe doggy tattoos.
Celebrating Abolition Commemoration Day
To celebrate Abolition Commemoration Day on July 8, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History came to Abolitionist Park for an afternoon of special performances, guest speakers, and a recognition of the day slavery ended in New York State.
Dancing and registering to vote at the park
On National Voter Registration Day in September, Abolitionist Place became the setting for Dancing for Democracy, a party to encourage voter participation. DBP partnered with Brooklyn Org, Vinyl Nights, The BKLYN Mavens, and civic organizations, including YVote and NYC Votes, to register voters, dance, and celebrate the spirit of democracy.
The park transforms into a runway
The following month, we hosted the first-ever fashion show at Abolitionist Place in partnership with City Point BKLYN during Brooklyn Fashion Week. The runway spotlighted young stylists, models, and producers from Fashion Camp 360 — a program by NYPD Community Affairs and Youth Strategies Development — featuring looks from Primark’s fall collection.
Zumba in honor of breast cancer awareness
Also in October, beloved fitness instructor Natarsha McQueen held a special Zumba class for breast cancer awareness. A survivor of breast cancer herself, Natarsha brought energy, inspiration, and a powerful message of resilience to Downtown Brooklyn, reminding us of the strength one can find in community and movement.
Celebrating the park’s first anniversary
On May 8, 2025 — exactly one year after the ribbon-cutting ceremony — we celebrated the first anniversary of Abolitionist Place with a day full of sunshine, smiles, and community joy. The park came alive with live music, juggling , face painting, and family-friendly fun for all ages. We were joined by Councilmember Lincoln Restler in marking this special milestone for Downtown Brooklyn’s newest public space.
Year Two + looking ahead
We continue to bring Abolitionist Place to life with dynamic, community-driven programming. In Spring 2025, the park hosted the return of En Garde Arts’ playdate Fest!, whose socially conscious themes feel more relevant than ever, and What’s Up Downtown?, which transforms the space into a giant playroom complete with jumbo board games, juggling by FlowJuggle, and plenty of springtime fun. And there’s more on the way — stay tuned to our events calendar or subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop!
It’s clear that Abolitionist Place has already become more than just open space. It’s a place that anchors Downtown Brooklyn and encourages community. From family-friendly festivals to performances with purpose, every gathering has helped shape a new chapter in Downtown Brooklyn’s story. With even more vibrant programming on the horizon, we’re just getting started. Here’s to more years of community, culture, and celebration at Abolitionist Place!
