FORT GREENE — The Parks Department recently began repairs to get rid of "Lake Fort Greene" — the name locals use to refer to large puddles of water and mud near the Willoughby Avenue entrance to Fort Greene Park.
The agency installed a temporary fence — blocking off the eastern portion of the park and shuttering the Willoughby Avenue entrance — as part of the $1.25 million renovation plan.
The project will add "new drainage and erosion controls" including underground rainwater retention tanks in an effort to control the mess on the pathway near the entrance, a problem that has been around for decades, according to Neil Glaser, who serves on the board of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy.
The Willoughby Avenue entrance will also be upgraded with new steps and a ramp for strollers and wheelchairs, Glaser said.
The fence — which begins at the park's entrance and circles up past the Visitor's Center, hugs the edge of the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument and passes the edge of the "dust bowl" (an area used as a sports field) — will remain in place while repairs are being made to the park.
It is unclear how long the upgrades will take.
The Department of Parks and Recreation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.