5. Ocean Parkway starts in Kensington (and used to feature horse bridle paths)
Ocean Parkway, one of Brooklyn’s quintessential roadways, stretches from Kensington just south of Prospect Park to Brighton Beach. Stretching just under five miles, Ocean Parkway starts at the Park Circle entrance to Prospect Park and runs roughly parallel to Coney Island Avenue. As early as 1866, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the masterminds behind Central Park and Prospect Park, suggested the creation of Ocean Parkway to connect Prospect Park with Coney Island. Early plans called for Ocean Parkway to have service roads divided by tree-lined medians. After gaining approval from the New York State Legislature, construction on the parkway began in 1874, and the stretch from Kensington to Kings Highway opened a year later. The remaining section opened in November 1876.
Improvements were made in the following years including the nation’s first bike path, installed in 1894. Around the turn of the 20th century, homes were constructed along Ocean Parkway, followed by mansions and apartment complexes. The eastern side of Ocean Parkway also featured bridle paths for horses, which could be rented by Prospect Park. The bridle paths were used for horse and sleigh races. Some horses also took the paths to the Brighton Beach Race Course and Gravesend Race Track for races. The paths were eventually removed in 1978 and were paved over. The parkway was designated a landmark in 1975, after which it was restored and repaved.