Park Slope Neighborhood Review - Brooklyn Moving Guide
Park Slope is a quintessential family-friendly hip Brooklyn neighborhood, bordered by Prospect Heights, Boerum Hill, Gowanus, and South Slope.
It's undergone a unique gentrification process that didn't really involve the usual migration of artists, but rather Manhattanites who saw the historic townhouses as deals in the 80's.
This movement towards the Slope began to skyrocket in the 90's and into the early 2000's.
In this Park Slope neighborhood review, we'll look into public transportation, restaurants, average apartment rent, and home sale prices.
Why do people move here?
How about the close proximity to Prospect Park, the great schools, the beautiful tree-lined streets, the multitude of restaurants and shops lining the avenues, and the general hustle and bustle of an urban environment.
Shop at the huge farmers market on Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza, go running in the park, or enjoy any of the numerous street fairs taking place when the weather is great.
Fun Fact: In the early 1980's, former president Barack Obama lived in a top-floor brownstone on second street in Park Slope with his girlfriend at the time, Genevieve Cook.
What Celebrities Live in Park Slope
Many celebrities have long known that Park Slope is a Brooklyn gem, just like its residents.
| Celebrity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Maggie Gyllenhaal | Actress, Director |
| Peter Saarsgaard | Actor |
| John Turturro | Actor, Producer, Director, Writer |
| Steve Buscemi | Actor, Director |
| Patrick Stewart | Actor |
| Zoe Kravitz | Actress, Singer, Model |
| Emily Blunt | Actress, Producer |
| John Krasinski | Actor, Director, Producer |
Public Transportation
Around the neighborhood, you'll find access to multiple trains and buses, with convenient commutes into the city and other parts of Brooklyn.
Citi-bike stations are scattered all throughout the area as well.
Although, not quite as bike-friendly as some other neighborhoods, it is Brooklyn so there is a fair amount of cyclists.
While getting around by car might convenient, traffic and parking can be major issues in the Slope.
| Subway | F, G, D, R, F, G, 2, 3, 4, 5, B, Q, |
|---|---|
| Buses | B41, B61, B63, B65, B69, B67, B103 |
Subway lines in neighborhood
- B D F
IND Sixth Avenue Line
- G
IND Crosstown Line
- N Q R
BMT Broadway Line
Renting in Park Slope
The northern areas of Park Slope and by Prospect Park West (kind of like the Brooklyn version of Central Park West) can command fairly high rents.
You might be able to find better deals in South Slope (particularly below 10th Street) and closer to Fourth Avenue, where you are bordering by Gowanus, although Gowanus has gotten very pricey as well.
It's very difficult to find good no-fee apartments in Park Slope due to the high demand. The vast majority of units are going to entail a brokers fee.
| Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedrooms | 3 Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,091 | $2,696 | $3,415 | $4,386 |
Average Rent Price History by Neighborhood
Apartments Available in Park Slope
Public & Charter Schools
Park Slope is located within Brooklyn school district 15, with the exception of a small area of North Park Slope that belongs to district 13.
The biggest draw for families to this area is the excellent public schools, particularly the elementary and middle schools.
Because of the number of excelling public schools, this neighborhood hasn't demonstrated a huge need for charter schools, so you won't see any in this area, although there are charter choices around the rest of district 15.
If public or charter schools are not your thing, there are also a number of choice private schools in the area like the Berkeley Carroll School and Poly Prep.
| Schools | Notes |
|---|---|
| Millennium Brooklyn High School | Public - Grades 9-12 565 students - Unknown student/teacher |
| Ms 266 Park Place Community Middle School | Public - Grades 6-8 131 students - 16 student/teacher |
| Ms 51 William Alexander | Public - Grades 6-8 1124 students - 17 student/teacher |
| P.S.10 Magnet School for Math Science & Design Technology | Public - Grades PK-5 1071 students - 12 student/teacher |
| Ps 107 John W Kimball | Public - Grades K-5 569 students - Unknown student/teacher |
| Ps 124 Silas B Dutcher | Public - Grades PK-5 348 students - 13 student/teacher |
| Ps 133 William A Butler | Public - Grades PK-5 554 students - 9 student/teacher |
| Ps 282 Park Slope | Public - Grades PK-8 700 students - 19 student/teacher |
| Ps 321 William Penn | Public - Grades K-5 1471 students - 15 student/teacher |
| Ps 39 Henry Bristow | Public - Grades PK-5 408 students - Unknown student/teacher |
| Ps 77 | Public - Grades K-2, 4, 6-9, 12 293 students - 4 student/teacher |
| Secondary School for Journalism | Public - Grades 9-12 289 students - 13 student/teacher |
| Secondary School for Law | Public - Grades 9-12 358 students - 13 student/teacher |
Restaurants
The sheer size of the neighborhood and foot traffic make this a very conducive environment for a thriving retail and restaurant scene.
While not every establishment you walk into is going to be five-stars, you can find an amazing array of excellent restaurants--anything from Italian to Indian, or Korean to Israeli.
There are also no shortage of delectable bakery choices and hopping brunch spots. Some notables are Sushi Katsuei, Al Di La Trattoria, Stone Park Cafe, and Bricolage.
Attractions and Nightlife
There's never a dull moment in Park Slope, between the Prospect Park Zoo, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, the Armory at the YMCA, and the Puppetworks Theater.
There's a great nightlife as well with dozens of bars to choose from, especially in South Slope, where the demographic tends to be younger with more singles.
For your comedy fix, be sure to stop by Union Hall and The Bell House, which actually features live music as well as live podcast broadcasts.
Barbes features a wide variety of musicians and musical styles.