Est. 2026 · New York City

NYC Park Guide

Your comprehensive guide to parks and public spaces across all five boroughs

Lullwater

NYC Parks

Location
Eastern section of Prospect Park, near Ocean Avenue entrance
Size
Part of Prospect Park (526 acres) acres
Hours
Prospect Park hours
Type
NYC Parks

The Lullwater is a secluded waterway in the eastern section of Prospect Park, considered by many to be the most beautiful and tranquil feature of Olmsted and Vaux's masterwork. The narrow, winding channel feeds Prospect Park Lake through a landscape of overhanging trees and wild shoreline.

Olmsted and Vaux designed the Lullwater to create a sense of wilderness seclusion within the park, using dense plantings, curving banks, and a deliberately narrow channel to produce an atmosphere of mystery and discovery.

The Lullwater Bridge, a rustic wooden span crossing the narrowest point of the waterway, is one of the most romantic spots in Prospect Park. The bridge, the overhanging trees, and the reflections in the still water create a scene worthy of a Monet painting.

The Prospect Park Boathouse and Audubon Center sit at the point where the Lullwater opens into the larger lake, providing a dramatic transition from intimate, enclosed waterway to open water body.

The Lullwater demonstrates Olmsted and Vaux at the height of their genius, creating a waterscape that feels like a pristine wilderness stream transported from the Adirondacks to the middle of Brooklyn.

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