Adorable! Carroll Park In Carroll Gardens Has Become A Raccoon Nursery While Closed During Covid-19 Lockdown

(photos and video courtesy of Gary Dolan)

The closing of Carroll Park in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn on April 2, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic has left many in the neighborhood without a place to enjoy the outdoors.

However, it has given plant-life a bit of a reprieve from kids trampling on flowerbeds and on bushes. Just walk around Carroll Park and notice how lush and beautiful everything looks.
Our otherwise crowded park seems to also have become a refuge for a family of raccoons.
A mama and her babies were filmed and photographed by Gary Dolan, the longtime president of Friends of Carroll Park just yesterday.
Gary writes:
"As the majestic caribou, sensing the absence of humans, descends onto the plains of Yellowstone, so does the elusive trash panda descend upon Carroll Park."

Yes, raccoons are considered nuisances by many, but we find these photos adorable and are happy to see that Carroll Park is being used at all these days. We also hope that people will be respectful to these animals once the park reopens.

Thank you for sharing the photos, Gary!

And to Carroll Gardeners, if you see Gary plant and weed in the park, please tell him you appreciate his hard work.


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As Always, Carroll Park Halloween Parade Was Great Fun

I am currently out of town, so I missed the yearly Kids Halloween Parade in Carroll Park yesterday. Too bad.   I love seeing all the little princesses, superheroes and ghouls parading around the park and the neighborhood.  It must have been lots of fun judging by the photos sent to me by Gary Dolan, president of Friends Of Carroll Park
Gary reports:

There were over 300 participants. Weather was great, mostly cloudy but warm and no wind. Kathleen Henderson led the parade. We had an auxiliary police escort with a vehicle front and back. The parade headed out of the park on President near Smith, went west on President to Henry, to First, to Smith, and back to the park. Residents along the route were delighted, some surprised, some waiting for it. We had a drummer and Kathleen handed out 200 noisemakers. There were several large puppets that Pearl lent to us. We played Halloween music and served refreshments afterward -- water, apple juice, milk and cookies and pastries and apple slices. Local politicos handed out candy. We assembled in the park at 11:30, headed out at noon and wrapped up the post-parade refreshments about 1:45.

Hope all the little Carroll Gardeners got to participate.
Thanks to all the Friends of Carroll Park for organizing the event and thank you also to Smith Canteen on Smith Street for sponsoring the fun


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