The 15th Street-Prospect Park station is a unique local station on the IND subway system, located in the heart of Brooklyn. Serving both the F and G lines, this station stands out due to its distinctive curved tracks and a mezzanine layout dictated by its location beneath private property and the edge of Prospect Park. Unlike typical express stations where express tracks run directly, here, they bypass the station in a tunnel beneath Prospect Park, adding to the station’s unusual character.
Navigating the Curves and Mezzanine of 15th Street-Prospect Park
The station features a single island platform serving the two local tracks, which themselves curve noticeably as they approach and depart from the platform. The track walls are adorned with the classic IND style, featuring a yellow trimline with maroon borders and “15THST” tiled in white on black at regular intervals.
Above the platform, spanning the entire length of the station, is a mezzanine level. This mezzanine is narrower than those found in four-track stations and is notable for its layout that separates fare-controlled and non-fare-controlled areas along its eastern and western sides, respectively. This design creates a continuous passageway outside fare control, connecting all five street-level exits.
Exits and Entrances: Windsor Place to Prospect Park Southwest
The southern end of the mezzanine provides access to Windsor Place. The street stair emerges across from the T-intersection with Howard Place. At this entrance, within the mezzanine, are both entrance/exit and exit-only high turnstiles. This point marks the beginning of the main mezzanine area, which is divided into fare-controlled and non-fare-controlled sections. A staircase near this exit leads down to the southern end of the platform.
Continuing along the mezzanine towards the 16th Street exit, you’ll find the station’s token booth, accompanied by two MetroCard Vending Machines (MVMs). Opposite these is the station’s only set of regular turnstiles, alongside another staircase descending to the platform. The 16th Street exit is positioned in the middle of the mezzanine, across from an exit-only high turnstile. This exit leads to a short intermediate landing and a passageway that curves westward to emerge on the north side of 16th Street, east of Prospect Park West. Another platform staircase is located near the 16th Street exit.
Central Mezzanine and Bartel-Pritchard Square
Ancillary rooms divide the fare-controlled and non-fare-controlled sections of the mezzanine. At the northern end of this divided section, a street stair ascends to the southeast corner of Prospect Park Southwest and Bartel-Pritchard Square. It’s important to note that while this exit serves Prospect Park Southwest, there are no direct exits to 15th Street itself from this station. The fare-controlled area of the mezzanine ends near this exit, leading to a staircase down to the platform, flanked by high entrance/exit and exit-only turnstiles.
Northern Exits into Prospect Park
Beyond this point, the mezzanine becomes entirely outside of fare control. A street stair on the eastern side leads up to the north side of Prospect Park Southwest. This entrance is uniquely situated within Prospect Park Southwest, with the stonework of the street stair seamlessly blending into the park’s stonewall.
Opposite this Prospect Park Southwest entrance, near the northern end of the platform, two staircases ascend to a small, fare-controlled area in the mezzanine’s center. This area provides access to high exit and entrance/exit turnstiles for the exits further north. As the mezzanine reaches its northernmost point, it is entirely under Prospect Park.
The final two exits are reached via a relatively long passageway extending west from the northern end of the mezzanine. The first of these is a street stair to the northeast corner of Prospect Park West, just north of Bartel-Pritchard Square. This entrance is set within Prospect Park, featuring decorative stonework typical of IND station entrances within parkland. The passageway continues to a final, conventional street stair leading to the northwest corner of Prospect Park West and Bartel-Pritchard Square, completing the station’s array of exits.
A Unique Station Reflecting its Surroundings
The 15th Street-Prospect Park station is more than just a transit stop; it’s an integral part of its neighborhood. Its unusual design, dictated by the geography of Prospect Park and surrounding private properties, makes it a fascinating example of urban subway engineering. For anyone exploring Prospect Park or the surrounding areas of Brooklyn, the 15th Street-Prospect Park station offers a distinctive and convenient gateway, reflecting the unique character of its location.
