Catch a breeze during the hot days of summer on a painted pony as you ride ’round to the sound of old circus tunes and are transported back to the glory days of carnivals.
Riding the bobbing horses on a carousel is a right of passage for many kids, and the carousel in Prospect Park is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to experience the beloved pastime.
Carousels originated during the Crusades, when knights would prepare for jousting tournaments by practicing on elaborately-dressed wooden horses that would move up and down to simulate a real ride. They got the idea while in the Middle East, where locals played the game “carosella,” or “little wars.” It was only a matter of time before music was put to the bouncing horses and the modern carousel was born.
Prospect Park’s historic carousel was built in 1912, and has a stable of 53 carved horses, a lion, a giraffe, a deer, and two dragon-pulled chariots. It is also known for its Wurlitzer organ, which plays melodies that have been enchanting children and grown-ups alike for decades.
Now, riders don’t have to be knights to ride the jewel-clad horses — but can pretend to be, or can be anything else going anywhere atop their leaping creatures.
“I love the merry-go-round because I think, ‘I’m a cowgirl from the Wild West,’ ” said 9-year-old Jackie Mariano, who’s been riding the carousel since she was in diapers, and now brings her sisters to this magical place.
“We spin, laugh, then have ice cream. The ride always seems to go by too fast,” said the third grader, who calls the carousel the perfect summer delight.
Many Brooklyn residents who enjoyed the carousel as children now bring their kids to experience the ride.
“It is a summer tradition,” said one rider. “We get here early when there ar no lines, then visit the zoo. We can simply pack a picnic lunch, and we are set.”
The carousel operated at Coney Island until it was brought to the park in 1952. It was built by Russian-immigrant Charles Carmel, a master carver of the time who lived by Prospect Park, and was inspired by the nearby horse stable.
In 1990, the Prospect Park Alliance raised over $80,000 to restore the merry-go-round, which had begun to show its wear and tear. During the restoration, 20 layers of paint were removed from the carousel, and its original colors were restored. In addition, more than 1,000 lights were added, and iconic Brooklyn scenes were painted onto the ride.
If you really, really like the ride, you can even adopt a horse through the Alliance — with the cost of the adopting going toward your horse’s upkeep.
To date, there are not many golden-age carousels left standing. Of the 2,000 constructed in the early 1900s, only 200 remain intact.
The Carousel is located in the Children’s Corner of the park, by Lefferts Homestead and the Prospect Park Zoo. It is one of the few carousels that are wheelchair accessible.
Carousel [In the Children’s Corner, by Lefferts Homestead and the zoo, in Prospect Park (718) 965-8999] Tickets $2 per person. Season runs from April 2 to Oct. 30, Thursday through Sunday, and holidays, noon to 6 pm. For more information, visit www.prospectpark.org/visit/places/carousel.
