Highland Park Brooklyn: Hours, Access, and What to Know

Highland Park sits on the Brooklyn–Queens border, with listed addresses and access points around Bulwer Place, Highland Park Greenway, Jamaica Avenue, and the Jackie Robinson Parkway. NYC Parks categorizes it as a park group under Queens, though the park straddles both boroughs.

One entrance is at Cleveland Street and Jamaica Avenue. The park’s notable features include Ridgewood Reservoir, the Dawn of Glory Statue, Highland Park Lower Western Playground, and The Atlantic Flyway - Highland Park. If you are planning a wider day nearby, see this guide to spending a day near the inn.

Highland Park is about a 10-minute drive from Red Carpet Inn Brooklyn. The park is also about 27 minutes away on foot. No specific transit route to a park entrance is provided here.

A walk or bike ride that continues into the park can follow the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway approach from Lincoln Terrace Park. The route begins at Eastern Parkway and Buffalo Avenue, heads south on Buffalo Avenue, then follows Highland Boulevard and Heath Place into Highland Park. It starts on fairly busy streets and includes a steep climb.

At the reservoir, cross Vermont Avenue to stairs leading up to the trail, then follow the reservoir toward a ramp at Cypress Avenue. Cypress Hills Street has heavy traffic and no pedestrian or bicycle traffic lights, so take care when following that part of the route.

Highland Park combines sports facilities, playgrounds, trails, and natural areas. Its facilities include baseball fields, basketball and handball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, fitness equipment, hiking trails, playgrounds, public restrooms, spray showers, and designated barbecuing areas. Facility availability can change, so check the official site before you go.

Ridgewood Reservoir is a notable stop within the park. Its main entrance is across the Vermont Place parking lot, and the path around the reservoir is 1.18 miles long. It connects to the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway and is used for walking, jogging, and birdwatching.

The Greenway’s Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir section covers 6.6 miles. The estimated travel time is one hour by bicycle or three hours on foot. Those figures describe the full route, rather than just the reservoir loop.

The reservoir’s history helps explain its place in the landscape. Brooklyn acquired land for it in 1856, and the reservoir operated from the 1860s until 1985.

Land around it was purchased for park purposes in 1891; Highland Park took its present shape in 1906–08. The Dawn of Glory World War I monument, by sculptor Pietro Montana, was dedicated in 1925.

Highland Park closes at dusk, except during organized permitted events. No clock-time opening schedule is listed, so plan around daylight rather than relying on a fixed closing hour. No seasonal schedule is provided.

Some park rules affect how you use the grounds. Dogs may be off leash from 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., but pets are not allowed on sports areas or playgrounds.

Barbecues are permitted only in designated areas; alcoholic beverages, unauthorized vehicles, and dirt bikes are prohibited. Gatherings of 25 people or more, as well as all organized events, require a permit issued at least 30 days in advance.

Check NYC Parks for current access, facility, and permit information before setting out. Park hours are tied to dusk, and available facilities or rules can change. If your plans include an organized event or a larger gathering, confirm the permit requirements in advance.

For a reservoir walk, note that the loop is 1.18 miles; the longer Greenway section has a separate distance and estimated travel time. Choosing which route you intend to follow will help you plan the outing without confusing the reservoir path with the full Greenway section.