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Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most desirable family neighborhoods, known for tree-lined brownstone blocks and Prospect Park access. Excellent public schools and a thriving local retail corridor along 5th and 7th Avenues.
Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most desirable family neighborhoods, known for tree-lined brownstone blocks and Prospect Park access. Excellent public schools and a thriving local retail corridor along 5th and 7th Avenues.
Did you know?
Park Slope's brownstone stoops were originally designed as elevated entrances to keep parlor floors above the horse manure and mud of 19th-century streets.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromPark Slope
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
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Trade-offs
Stands out
- Family-Friendly Vibe96/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
- Schools93/100
Strong results at the public and charter schools serving it
- Transit83/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
To weigh
- Affordability13/100
Higher costs than most
- Air & Child Health35/100
More air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most
Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods.
What these scores don't measure: how a block feels on foot, what's changing on it, and whether a particular school suits your child. Walk it at school drop-off time, and check the zoned school for the exact address before you sign a lease.
Your family’s read
How does Park Slope fit your family?
An agentic read of this neighborhood — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.
Analyze for My FamilySchools & early education
Schools19 schools
Park Slope runs a deep bench of public schools — from zoned elementary options like P.S. 321 William Penn and P.S. 107 John W. Kimball through M.S. 51 William Alexander up to Millennium Brooklyn HS, plus a handful of private choices including St. Saviour Catholic Academy and Berkeley-Carroll. Specialized programs at John Jay (law, cyberarts) and The Maurice Sendak Community School add variety, though families should plan for some homework on the zoned versus lottery landscape.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds2 places
Park Slope punches above its weight for green space. You've got two solid playground options — J.J. Byrne Playground in the northwest corner of Prospect Park and the namesake Park Slope Playground right off Seventh Avenue. What the neighborhood lacks in marquee waterfront (you're a solid walk from the Promenade) it makes up for in tree canopy and walkable access to Prospect Park's bigger fields. The playground bench situation is thin but what's there is well-maintained.
2 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Prospect Park · ~10 min walk (0.4 mi)
Transportation59 stops
Park Slope is exceptionally well-wired for Manhattan commutes. You've got six subway stations scattered across the neighborhood — Grand Army Plaza and Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr anchor the northern and southern ends, while the R train zips you straight to Union Square and downtown. The 2/3 express runs at Bergen St, and the F/G at 7 Av give you options. A thick web of bus lines along 5th and 7th Ave fills in the gaps. Getting to the city is rarely a headache here.
Restaurants100 places
Park Slope's restaurant scene has real depth along Fifth and Seventh Avenues, where you get everything from old-school bagel shops (there's a cluster worth noting) to solid Italian at Al Di Là and a few takeout staples that families fall back on. The bakery situation is surprisingly strong, and there's just enough international variety—some Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican—to keep things interesting without feeling like a food hall. Fast-casual chains like Chipotle and Five Guys have their place on the main drags, but the neighborhood holds onto its small-player character.
Groceries17 places
Park Slope's grocery scene is impressively deep — you've got a solid mix of options spanning several blocks, from the Key Food on 7th Ave to the CTown and Associated Supermarket anchoring the 5th Ave corridor. Lidl recently opened near Barclays, adding another affordable option to the mix. The Park Slope Food Coop remains a local institution for those with the time to commit to membership shifts. Most day-to-day shops are walkable, though a big weekly haul might involve a bit of legwork or a quick bus ride. The one gap? Full-scale warehouse shopping still requires a trek outside the neighborhood.
Coffee Shops50 places
Park Slope's coffee scene runs deep — you've got your third-wave pour-over spots keeping pace with no-nonsense corner cafes where grabbing a bagel and a joe is still the morning ritual. The mix runs from sleek espresso labs to laid-back neighborhood hangouts, a healthy spread that holds up whether you need a quick caffeine hit or a slower laptop afternoon. Like most indie-heavy corridors, the specific names rotate through, so the texture stays more than the storefronts.
Things to Do66 places
Park Slope packs a punch when it comes to getting kids moving — there's a deep bench of martial arts studios (jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga, wing chun, taekwondo) and dance schools covering everything from ballet to salsa, plus a handful of gymnastics and swimming options at the Prospect Park YMCA. Music lessons and enrichment programs thread through the list too, alongside a few quirkier spots that cater specifically to kids. Beach access and a movie theater add some variety, though the scene here skews athletic and movement-focused rather than purely recreational.
Daycare & informal care10 places
Park Slope delivers a deep bench of early childhood options — families will find around a dozen daycares scattered across the neighborhood alongside a strong roster of universal Pre-K sites at the local P.S. schools. That mix means you can chase a spot at P.S. 321 or P.S. 107, or lean private with a Montessori or immersion program if that's your speed. Park Slope KinderCare on Union Street is one of the chain options if consistency across locations matters to you. Drop-off traffic can get bumpy on the side streets near the schools come September, so factor that into your morning routine.
Family Resources7 places
Park Slope delivers when it comes to civic anchors. The branch library on 6th Avenue is a workhorse, and Pacific Library adds a second reliable outpost for story time and resources. The Playground at Lincoln Place is the kind of anchor that makes weekend mornings predictable in the best way. There's just one year-round farmers market (the Down to Earth operation on 4th Street) — it's a solid fixture, though the seasonal rotation means you're mostly relying on these two libraries and the recreation spots for consistent, year-round family infrastructure.
Healthcare49 places
Park Slope has serious healthcare firepower for a Brooklyn neighborhood. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital anchors the area on Sixth Street, with the Center for Community Health and Park Slope Family Health Center adding options. Pediatric care is well-represented with a deep bench of independent practices along Fifth Avenue and side streets — families shouldn't struggle to find someone. Urgent care coverage is thin (just two walk-in spots), but dental options are everywhere, from individual practices to Dental365 and Fresh Orthodontics on Fourth Avenue.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Park Slope
Schools in Park Slope
19
- ALC - John Jay
- BERKELEY-CARROLL SCHOOL
- Cyberarts Studio Academy
- John Jay School for Law
- KIDS-CENTRIC - HELEN OWEN CAREY CDC
- M.S. 51 William Alexander
- M.S. K266 - Park Place Community Middle School
- Millennium Brooklyn HS
- P.S. 039 Henry Bristow
- P.S. 107 John W. Kimball
- P.S. 124 Silas B. Dutcher
- P.S. 133 William A. Butler
- P.S. 282 Park Slope
- P.S. 321 William Penn
- P.S. K077
- Park Slope Collegiate
- ST SAVIOUR CATHOLIC ACADEMY
- ST SAVIOUR HIGH SCHOOL
- The Maurice Sendak Community School
Early education in Park Slope
22
- 14Th Street Preschool
- Bbru 8Th Street
- BERKELEY-CARROLL SCHOOL
- Brooklyn Free Space
- Chai Tots Preschool
- JUGUEMOS A CANTAR
- LET'S PLAY AND LEARN
- MAVEN VALLEY PREP
- NATAIE'S SUNFLOWER, LLC
- Ny Preschool Park Slope
- P.S. 107 John W. Kimball
- P.S. 124 Silas B. Dutcher
- P.S. 133 William A. Butler
- P.S. 282 Park Slope
- P.S. 321
- P.S. 321 William Penn
- P.S. K077
- Park Slope Child Development Center/Hoc
- REGINA'S PLAYSCHOOL
- ST SAVIOUR CATHOLIC ACADEMY
- STRONG PLACE FOR HOPE DAY CARE (SECOND STREET SITE)
- Strong Place For Hope Day Care Center - 2nd
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Park Slope a good neighborhood for families?
- Park Slope scores 67/100 for families on Motley — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. The Family Fit score blends six parts: how many families live there, schools, affordability, weekday-morning transit time to job centers, safety, and air quality and child health.
- What are the pros and cons of Park Slope for families?
- For families, Park Slope stands out for many families with children, with homes and schools close by; strong results at the public and charter schools serving it; and quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers. What to weigh: higher costs than most, and more air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most. Each score compares it with NYC's other residential neighborhoods. They don't measure how a block feels on foot or whether a particular school suits your child, so walk it before you decide.
- Is Park Slope safe?
- Park Slope scores 71/100 on safety — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods. We build the score from NYPD crime complaints, pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and serious (Class C) housing violations, each counted per 1,000 residents.
- How are the schools in Park Slope?
- Park Slope has 19 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 93/100 for schools — ahead of most NYC neighborhoods.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Park Slope?
- Middle school: families in Park Slope apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 15's 20 middle school programs admit by method: 15 unscreened and 5 charter lottery. District 13's 21 middle school programs admit by method: 13 screened, 6 charter lottery and 2 unscreened. High school: one citywide application in 8th grade lets a family rank programs anywhere in the city, and the eight specialized high schools admit on the SHSAT alone.
- Is Park Slope affordable?
- Park Slope scores 13/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Park Slope in?
- Park Slope is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.
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