Brooklyn’s biggest stories of the week: Bay Ridge’s Junior Golf Center unveiled six refurbished greens; the city is moving 10,000 children off the child care voucher waitlist; work began on a youth music school in the old Cobble Hill firehouse; Brooklyn’s median sale price climbed to $1.2 million; the Carroll Gardens Library is now due back in late November; the Liberty were swept out of the playoffs; Caputo Bagels opened in Park Slope and we held a packed Fall Fest with Brooklyn’s biggest urban pumpkin patch. Read on for the latest!
Parks & Play
Bay Ridge’s Junior Golf Center unveiled six refurbished greens
City Parks Foundation and DICK’S Sporting Goods cut the ribbon on Sunday on six refurbished greens at the Junior Golf Center, next to the Dyker Beach golf course. Lessons and equipment are free for NYC kids ages 6–17.
Roebling Rink reopens November 14
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Roebling Rink is back this winter: skating runs November 14 through January 31, 2027, the park announced. Tickets and details are coming soon.
Schools & Childcare
The city is moving 10,000 children off the child care voucher waitlist
City Hall announced on Monday that more than 10,000 low-income children, ages 6 weeks to 13 years, will get free child care through vouchers; ACS starts inviting waitlisted families to apply over the next few weeks.
High school applications and SHSAT sign-ups opened
Eighth graders can apply to high schools for fall 2027 until December 4, and SHSAT registration runs October 6–30, per the schools’ October family update. Middle school applications open Wednesday, October 14: our guide.
Work began on a youth music school in the old Cobble Hill firehouse
The city started a $17.8 million renovation of the 1857 Engine Company 204 firehouse at 299 DeGraw Street into a home and music school for the Noel Pointer Foundation, which teaches ages 3 to 18. Completion is expected in fall 2028.
New renderings show Runway Green’s Floyd Bennett Field campus
The $60 million, seven-acre education campus for city public school students breaks ground next year, starting with a three-acre farm, a public high school and campgrounds, New York YIMBY reported.
Transit & Streets
Six Brooklyn subway stations are getting new fare gates
After new gates cut fare evasion 35% at pilot stations, the MTA named the next ones, including Hoyt-Schermerhorn, Bedford Av, Myrtle Av and 36 St; prep work starts this month. The new gates are meant to be easier for riders pushing strollers.
Police Blotter
An officer in an unmarked NYPD car ran a red light and hit a cyclist in Boerum Hill
The cyclist was hospitalized after Monday’s crash at Atlantic Avenue and Hoyt Street; footage showed no lights or sirens, Streetsblog reported. The NYPD said the incident is under review.
A gas main was struck at a Prospect Avenue construction site
Buildings were evacuated Wednesday morning after a contractor hit a high-pressure gas main at 467 Prospect Avenue, the Arrow Linen site, News 12 reported.
Real Estate & Development
Brooklyn’s median sale price climbed to $1.2 million
The borough’s third-quarter median sale price was $1.2 million, up 14.3% in a year, appraiser Jonathan Miller wrote in The Real Deal; Corcoran’s report, measuring differently, put it at $866,000, the third highest on record.
A Clinton Hill townhouse sold for a neighborhood-record $9.4 million
374 Washington Avenue sold off-market for $9.4 million, the priciest home sold in Clinton Hill, edging out the Pfizer mansion’s $9.1 million in 2021, The Real Deal reported.
Community & Events
The Carroll Gardens Library is now due back in late November
Council Member Shahana Hanif said on Wednesday that the renovated branch should reopen in late November; the elevator still has to be installed and inspected. The pop-up library at 250 Baltic Street stays open.
Our Fall Fest at Atlantic Terminal was a big hit
Atlantic Terminal Mall and Brooklyn Bridge Parents hosted Fall Fest on Saturday on Atlantic Terminal’s plaza and car-free Fort Greene Place, where kids picked and decorated pumpkins from our free urban pumpkin patch of over 1,000 pumpkins. Thank you to our event supporter, Montessori Day School of Brooklyn.
Food & Drink
Caputo Bagels opened in Park Slope
Fifth-generation baker James Caputo, whose family bake shop closed this spring, opened Caputo Bagels at 81 Fifth Avenue on Monday with Miriam owner Rafi Hasid: hand-rolled sourdough bagels and a take on the bake shop’s lard bread.
Voodoo Queen finally opened on Fifth Avenue
Voodoo Queen Soul Kitchen, with New Orleans-inspired food, opened Tuesday at 147 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope for lunch and dinner; brunch starts in November.
Booth’s Extra Fine brought a steakhouse to Williamsburg
The team behind Nobody Told Me opened Booth’s Extra Fine on Tuesday at 62 South 2nd Street: steaks, chops, chilled seafood and martinis, per Eater NY.
Sports
On the Court
The Liberty fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-five WNBA semifinals, losing in Atlanta 92-82 on Sunday and 101-98 in overtime on Wednesday despite Breanna Stewart’s 35 points. The Nets won both preseason games, 124-90 at Charlotte and 114-108 over the 76ers at Barclays Center; they visit Washington on Monday.
On the Pitch
Brooklyn FC’s men are next at Hartford Athletic on Saturday, October 17, per Brooklyn FC.
The Times profiled Liberty co-owner Clara Wu Tsai
The New York Times profiled Liberty co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, who hopes to leave a cultural imprint on Brooklyn beyond basketball. She has sponsored public arts initiatives in and around Barclays Center and is spending more and more time at a carriage house in Brooklyn Heights.
The Liberty were swept out of the playoffs
The Liberty’s season ended on Friday at Barclays Center, where Atlanta won 85-83 to finish a 3-0 semifinal sweep. Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart scored 26 points apiece.
Brooklyn FC’s women drew with Dallas Trinity
Brooklyn FC’s women drew 1-1 with Dallas Trinity at Maimonides Park on Saturday. Tziarra King scored in the 30th minute; Dallas equalized late. Next up: Tampa Bay Sun at home on October 24.
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