4.35 miles | 213 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★★

With a Friday off, I planned to attempt my first solo hike. But a couple of things changed my mind. I’m a bit clumsy so the idea of being in the woods, alone, and spraining my ankle or worse didn’t really appeal. Plus for the first time in 15 months, I wanted to be with all the people. A wild, yet urban stroll through Prospect Park seemed to fit the bill.

Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo basically announced covid was over. New York state has reached 70% of at residents 18 and over having received at least one shot. Never mind the fact that one shot hasn’t been proven to be significantly effective against never variants. And never mind the fact that in the city, we’re only about 50% vaccinated. The state is open.

It was only a few weeks ago that I started feeling comfortable with the loosened regulations and my vaccine status. I went to brunch inside but the restaurant was barely half full. We went to an empty museum, still wearing masks. I socially-distanced at a movie theater, and I’ve ridden the subway several times. I was okay with the gradual reductions, but now, with everything “back to normal” I’m not so sure.

Yet I still craved the connection to people. I wanted to be in, and be part of my city, to wander the forests of Prospect Park with my fellow Brooklynites. It’s amazing how wild the park can be. Follow the main loop and bike path and you’re surrounded by people. The Long Meadow is filled with picnics, camp groups, badminton nets and sun bathers. But wander a little further, onto the dirt paths and the sounds of the city fade away.

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I started at Grand Army Plaza and looped clockwise to the lake, taking every side trail I could find. Wandering under bridges, alongside streams and even discovering a little waterfall. I was jerked back to the city, reaching the other end of the park by Prospect Lefferts Gardens, but then again dove back into the wilderness. I even found some mulberry trees to forage along the way.

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