Bringing Dead Space Back to Life in Brooklyn

Sarah Goodyear discovers a project to help Brooklynites reclaim land owned by the city, but long since abandoned, and building neighborhood bonds in the process.

1 minute read

March 30, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT

By Ryan Lue


When lawyer Paula Z. Segal began investigating a vacant tract of land near her home last year, she set the wheels in motion for a project that would span the entirety of Brooklyn and create the potential for a vast expanse of new public space.

The lot, she discovered, had been taken over by the city's Department of Environmental Protection some years prior to provide access for a public works project, long since completed. But in the course of her research, she discovered that this lot was not alone – there are 596 acres of such government-owned, unoccupied parcels throughout the borough, almost three-quarters the size of Central Park.

And so, she and a handful of volunteers came together to form the aptly-named 596 Acres, a project devoted to identifying these vacant lots and giving the community the tools they need to take them back.

"596 Acres helps people to navigate bureaucracy, governance structures, and neighborhood dynamics," Goodyear writes. "The group has printed a broadsheet with a flowchart that outlines the complicated processes involved without making it all seems hopelessly intimidating."

While the organization strongly advocates the creation of community gardens, their objective is ultimately to undo the blight caused by visibly underutilized open spaces. "We want to see people being able to regain control over what's going on in their neighborhoods," says Segal.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 in Grist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight