Categories
Quick searches
Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate features charming pre-war housing, diverse Caribbean communities, and Prospect Park access. An increasingly sought-after family neighborhood.
Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate features charming pre-war housing, diverse Caribbean communities, and Prospect Park access. An increasingly sought-after family neighborhood.
Did you know?
The Prospect Park carousel in Prospect Lefferts Gardens was hand-carved by Charles Carmel in 1912, with 51 horses, a lion, a giraffe, a deer, and two dragon-pulled chariots.
Who’s your neighbor?
Housing cost
$895 / sq ft
Commute
Weekday mornings · leaving 7:30–9:00
- FromProspect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate
- ToNear Bryant Park
Family scores
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Trade-offs
Stands out
- Transit72/100
Quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers
- Family-Friendly Vibe68/100
Many families with children, with homes and schools close by
To weigh
- Safety24/100
More reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident
- Air & Child Health30/100
More air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most
- Affordability32/100
Higher costs 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 Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate 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
Schools25 schools
Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Wingate pack real diversity into their school landscape — you've got zoned public options like P.S. 091 on Albany Avenue and P.S. 092 on Parkside sitting alongside a handful of charter schools including Achievement First and Explore. The private side runs strong here too, with a cluster of yeshiva and Jewish day schools (BETH RIVKAH, Bnos Menachem, CHABAD GIRLS ACADEMY) giving the area a distinct educational flavor. A few specialized public high schools, like High School for Public Service on Kingston Avenue, draw students from beyond the neighborhood. It's a mixed bag that rewards shopping around.
Browse all early-ed in this neighborhoodLiving here
Parks & Playgrounds5 places
Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate delivers a solid bench of playgrounds — five in total, which is respectable for a small pocket of Brooklyn. Wingate Park anchors the area with the most space, while Hamilton Metz Field and Winthrop Playground cover the day-to-day needs of families with little ones. The trade-off here is that these are all playgrounds first; if you're looking for hiking trails, fields for organized sports, or waterfront access, you'll need to venture a few blocks east toward the Parade Ground or Prospect Park itself. But for straightforward swings-and-slides territory, this block holds its own.
3 playgrounds within a 10-min walk
Nearest large park: Prospect Park · ~19 min walk (0.7 mi)
Transportation74 stops
The Q train at Parkside Av and the 2/5 at Sterling St and Winthrop St give this pocket solid express access to Midtown — you're looking at a 25-35 minute ride depending on transfer luck. The B and S at Prospect Park add another option if you're heading to the outer boroughs or connecting to the LIRR. Bus coverage is dense along Albany Av, Bedford Av, and Empire Blvd, so even without a station in arm's reach you've got a backup. The main gap? No direct link to the A/C lines means sometimes you're riding east or south just to head back north.
Restaurants69 places
Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate delivers a deep bench of Caribbean and Haitian eateries alongside a surprisingly solid bakery scene — think Golden Krust, Errol's, and a few Haitian bakeries anchoring the food scene. Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand host a cluster of quick-service spots, delis, and takeout windows, with pizza by the slice and fried chicken options thrown in. It's not really a sit-down-and-linger neighborhood — think grab-and-go over date night, with the occasional straightforward diner for a coffee-and-cake break. The mix skews practical and affordable, which fits the area's vibe perfectly.
Groceries18 places
The grocery scene here punches above its weight for a working-class Brooklyn pocket — Key Food anchors the north end on Nostrand, while Lidl and Associated Fresh cover the Flatbush corridor, giving you a few solid options for the weekly shop without needing a car. Beyond the chains, there's a genuinely deep bench of independent markets: Tony's Meat Market, Klein's Grocery, Labay Market, and a handful of produce stands along Nostrand and Flatbush that keep the neighborhood well-fed. Two seasonal greenmarkets (Parkside Plaza and Urban Oasis) round things out nicely when the weather cooperates.
Coffee Shops29 places
The coffee scene here punches above its weight for a residential pocket — a solid spread of cafes lines Flatbush Ave, Nostrand, and Rogers with a few tucked onto side streets. It's mostly indie spots with a casual, grab-and-go vibe, though there's one Dunkin' on Flatbush for the familiar crowd. Nothing third-wave fancy, but enough variety to find your morning spot without thinking twice.
Things to Do12 places
Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate delivers a strong enrichment lineup, with tutoring centers and dance studios forming the backbone of what's available for families. A handful of martial arts programs, a music group, and a neighborhood movie theater add variety, while a single sports facility rounds things out. Given the area's lower family density, the bench of options is genuinely solid — parents won't go far for academic support or creative classes, though specialized activities like swimming or gymnastics would mean heading elsewhere.
Daycare & informal care11 places
There's a workable mix of daycare and Pre-K options here — about ten universal Pre-K sites scattered across the neighborhood alongside a similar number of private daycares, many clustered near Lefferts Avenue and the Flatbush border. The density is decent for a family navigating morning drop-off, though spots can fill fast come enrollment season. If you're new to the area, starting your search early is key — the local options lean toward smaller, independent operations rather than chains.
Family Resources7 places
Prospect Lefferts Gardens holds a modest but solid bench of public anchors. Crown Heights Library on Kingston Avenue serves as the neighborhood's main library — a reliable resource for programs and quiet study space. Wingate Park and the two playgrounds (Rolph Henry and Winthrop) provide outdoor recreation, while seasonal farmers markets at the Youth Farm and Urban Oasis bring fresh produce to the area. That said, year-round community center options are thin here.
Healthcare19 places
Kings County Hospital Center anchors the healthcare landscape here — a full-service public institution that's been a backbone for the community. A solid bench of pediatricians serves families across the neighborhood, and a handful of urgent care spots handle the inevitable after-hours bumps and bruises. Dental care is thinner on the ground though, with just one practice on Ocean Avenue — parents hunting for a pediatric dentist may need to look a bit wider.
Compare with nearby neighborhoods
Best schools in Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate
Schools in Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate
25
- Achievement First Crown Heights Charter School
- Achievement First Voyager Charter School
- BETH RIVKAH SCHOOL
- BNOS CHOMESH ACADEMY
- BNOS MENACHEM, INC
- Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts
- CHABAD GIRLS ACADEMY HIGH
- CITY-PRO GROUP, INC. - BEDFORD AVE
- CROWN MULTI-EDUC SERV-HEAD START
- CROWN MULTI-EDUC SVCS LEFFERT
- DARCHAI MENACHEM INC
- Explore Charter School
- High School for Public Service: Heroes of Tomorrow
- LEAGUE SCHOOL
- LEFFERTS GARDENS MONTESSORI
- M.S. 061 Dr. Gladstone H. Atwell
- MARY BOBB LEARNING ACADEMY
- New Heights Middle School
- P.S. 091 The Albany Avenue School
- P.S. 092 Adrian Hegeman
- P.S. 397 Foster-Laurie
- P.S. K141
- Parkside Preparatory Academy
- School for Human Rights, The
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACA
Early education in Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate
20
- All My Children Day Care 10
- ALL MY CHILDREN DAY CARE AND NURSERY SCHOOL
- Associated Beth Rivkah School - UPK
- BETH RIVKAH SCHOOL
- Bnos Menachem
- BNOS MENACHEM, INC
- DARCHAI MENACHEM INC
- Hawthorne Corners Day Care Center
- High Definition Day Care, Inc.
- HIGH DEFINITION KIDS DAY CARE INC.
- LEAGUE SCHOOL
- LEFFERTS GARDENS MONTESSORI
- MARY BOBB LEARNING ACADEMY
- P.S. 091 The Albany Avenue School
- P.S. 092 Adrian Hegeman
- P.S. 397 Foster-Laurie
- P.S. K141
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACA
- The Maple Street School
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate a good neighborhood for families?
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate scores 43/100 for families on Motley — near the middle of the pack citywide. 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 Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate for families?
- For families, Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate stands out for quick weekday-morning transit to the city's main job centers, and many families with children, with homes and schools close by. What to weigh: more reported crimes, traffic injuries or serious housing violations per resident; more air pollution, childhood lead or asthma ER visits than most; and higher costs 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 Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate safe?
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate scores 24/100 on safety — toward the lower end citywide. 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 Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate?
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate has 25 schools mapped inside its boundary and scores 36/100 for schools — toward the lower end citywide.
- How do middle and high school admissions work from Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate?
- Middle school: families in Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate apply in 5th grade through the citywide middle school application. District 17's 28 middle school programs admit by method: 10 screened, 9 unscreened, 6 charter lottery and 3 zoned. 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 Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate affordable?
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate scores 32/100 for affordability on Motley — among the pricier parts of the city.
- Which borough is Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate in?
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.
Want personalized insights for your family?
Sign in to get an agentic neighborhood analysis — including safety and cost of living — tailored to your priorities, family size, budget, and commute.