A man, a plan, a canal, & the weird building by Whole Foods

Janes Walk

Led By Erin Johnson

Ever wondered what’s up with that building on the corner of the Whole Foods in Gowanus? And why 3rd Street is so wide? In this guided walk, we’ll explore the development of the Gowanus Canal and much of Park Slope from pastoral meadowlands and rolling hills to a bustling industrial and residential area through the lens of Edwin Litchfield, industrial entrepreneur and namesake of Prospect Park’s Litchfield Villa. Delight in the smells of the putrid Gowanus Canal and the lush greenery of Park Slope’s tree-lined streets as we traverse 3rd Street from the canal to the park with a few detours along the way. Some stops will include the Coignet Building, the Old Stone House, and Litchfield Villa. Wear comfortable shoes and bring sun (or rain) protection.

Accessibility

The route will cover 1.3 miles total, almost entirely on NYC sidewalks and pavement (a very small portion on brick/stone pavers). There are no steps. The route is a gradual slope up to Prospect Park with an incline at the end at Litchfield Villa. There are nearby CitiBike stations at the start (3rd St/3rd Ave) and end (3rd St/PPW). The nearest subway stations to the start are Union St R, 4th Ave/9th St F/G/R, or Carroll St F/G, and to the end are 7th Ave F/G and Grand Army Plaza 2/3. There is limited free and metered street parking near the start and end. Whole Foods also has a free parking lot for customers near the route start. There are restrooms inside Whole Foods, at the Old Stone House, and at the Picnic House in Prospect Park.

Location Information

RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.

guided

Saturday, May 3, 2025
11:00 AM
2 hours

Borough: Brooklyn
Theme: Art & Architecture, Environment, History & Culture
Language: English
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The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Anahita Rouzbeh. Modifications: photo cropped.