10 THINGS TO DO IN PROSPECT PARK THIS SPRING

Spring has sprung. The trees and bushes of Park Slope are filling in with greenleaves and flowers, kissed by a warming sun. This also means our flagship park is increasingly bursting with stuff to enjoy.

Here are 10 things you can do that you might not have done before:

1. Let the Rhythm Get You. Bring something to beat (not you Chris Brown) or just groove to the percussion flowing at Drummer’s Grove. 

2. Pretend you are on a trip to the Caribbean. While we don’t quite have the sand or sea, Chow.com suggests a picnic of Jamaican patties and jerk chicken can be enjoyed for less than the monorail ride at JFK. 

3. Learn to Forage. You can’t find more locally sourced grub that what’s growing in the ground around the park. Steve Brill offers tours to show you what can be eaten (caution: those are not large Milk Duds). 

4. Try out Capoeira. Some people are lovers. Some are fighters. For those who are both, this Brazilian martial art combines combat moves with music and dancing. There are multiple classes offered throughout BK. Once you’ve got some moves down, practitioners like to gather in the park and show their moves. Just look for the people who seem to be kicking each other in the head. 

5. Re-create your own version of Food Network’s “Chopped.” With 2 greenmarkets, there’s gotta be a vendor offering something unfamiliar to your palate. Why not challenge yourself to buy a new mystery ingredient each week and see what you can make of it? Maybe then you can the go up against Park Slope Chopped winner Chef Miguel Aguilar. 

6. Be romantic. If you have a significant other, plan a surprise date with a picnic in the park. All you need is a blanket, food (self-made or bought from an eatery) and beverages –-in non-adult beverage packaging. Sunscreen might also be a good idea. Just don’t get too romantic and litter the place with condoms. 

7. Be Artful. So you have something you’d like to put on paper but have a million distractions at home? Grab a pad of paper and leave your cell phone/texts/emails/ youtube/ipad/directv/twitter/laptop/facebook/etc. behind for a few hours. Write a novel. Sketch a scene. Un-tether and float.

8. Be a kid. When was the last time you climbed a tree? Flew a kite? Played catch? Laid back and looked for shapes in the clouds? Can you still do a cartwheel or dare to crawl into a ball shape and roll down a hill? Gather 10 people and play capture the flag… then go to brunch. You earned that bottomless Mimosa this week.

9. Try a new sport or an old sport you used to do. Forget, for a moment, we’re in the largest metro area in North America. Instead, jump on a horse, curse like John McEnroe, reel in a bass, and if you don’t want to exert yourself too much, try birding.

10. Get involved. If nothing above tickles your fancy, just check out the calendar of events for the park-- there’s something going on almost every day of the week.

What did we miss? Have you got any cool recommendations for Prospect Park warmer weather activities?