Free Wi-Fi in Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park

Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park just got wireless. 

On Thursday, AT&T installed free Wi-Fi at Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park and at Picnic House. 

The wireless Internet is free, requires no password and is available to everyone with a smartphone or a computer.

Thursday’s launch is part of a five-year digital initiative with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, The Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffery and AT&T to provide free Wi-Fi at 26 locations in 20 New York City parks across the five boroughs. Now, New Yorkers can connect to the Internet in more than 10 parks across the city.

“I think that picking up a signal anywhere is pretty sweet. This will help me find my way around the park,” said Charles Felton, who was in Prospect Park using his smartphone on Thursday.

Tom DeVito, AT&T vice president and general manager for New York and New Jersey, said AT&T thought the two Brooklyn parks were perfect for free Wi-Fi.

“We want to keep New Yorkers connected wherever they are and both Prospect Park and Pier 1 are among the city’s most popular parks all year round,” DeVito said. “We’re excited to be able to enhance the visitor experience at these locations....” 

This article was written outside of the Picnic House in Prospect Park. Service reached about halfway into the lawn, but then lost the signal. All one has to do is open up their computer or smartphone, connect and they are ready to surf the web on their iPhone, iPad, smartphone or computer.

Passerby were excited to hear the news about free wireless and some immediately connected with their phones.

A man walking in the park stopped and said that he thought free wireless, although not park-wide, is helpful for many reasons.

“Let me ask you a question: if someone has a heart attack in the park, you could make a call and save a life. I think this is a great idea,” said Timothy Platt, Ph.D., who is a social media and business consultant.

AT&T operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 29,000 hot spots in stores, hotels and restaurants around the country with 1,250 locations in the New York-metropolitan area.

New Yorkers can also access free AT&T Wi-Fi at other locations across all five boroughs:  

• Herbert Von King Park and McCarren Park Field House in Brooklyn
• Astoria Park in Queens
• Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan
• Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island
• Battery Park (Battery Bosque and Ferry Landing)
• Rumsey Playfield
• Areas of Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem
• Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx
• Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan

When two young women walked past the Picnic House they screamed with joy about the new wireless connection.

“That’s so cool! It’s really awesome, because you could surf the web while at practice,” said Laissa Mauvais, who had just finished Midwood High School cross country practice and was on her iPhone. “I also don’t get great service around here, so it will help in case there is an emergency.”