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Psychedelic Street-Art Makeover Eyed For Funky Flatbush 'Trees'

By Sonja Sharp | October 23, 2013 8:22am
 Funky metal Flatbush 'Trees' could soon get a makeover as part of a planned rehab of the eyesore intersection at Prospect Park's gritty eastern entrance. 
Funky metal Flatbush 'Trees' could soon get a makeover as part of a planned rehab of the eyesore intersection at Prospect Park's gritty eastern entrance. 
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DNAinfo/Sonja Sharp

CROWN HEIGHTS — It's Flatbush, not Funkytown. 

Residents perturbed by the funky disco-era metal trees at Flatbush and Ocean avenues may finally see some progress in the ongoing effort to rehab Prospect Park's gritty eastern gateway. 

Installation artist Dave Eppley won a $2,000 "Arterventions" grant to update the time-ravaged trees, and could begin repainting them as soon as this spring. The makeover is part of a proposed project that would convert a current Transit Authority employee parking lot into a public plaza and otherwise beautify the eyesore intersection.  

"This is the gateway of Flatbush," said Michael Cetera, chair of Community Board 9's parks and recreation committee. "Rather than look at a chain link fence with razor ribbon, we thought it’d be much nicer to have a plaza." 

The board voted to on Tuesday night to send a letter to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the New York City Transit Authority requesting that the parking lot be moved to make way for a textured pavement plaza featuring trees, planters, and outdoor cafe-style seating. 

Design firm Open Space Initiatives has already drawn up plans for the space, which sits at the intersection of three of Brooklyn's busiest thoroughfares.