Can You Fly a Drone at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn?

Why Fort Greene Park Is a No-Fly Zone for Drones

Fort Greene Park is a 30-acre NYC Parks property in downtown Brooklyn, home to the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument. Under NYC Administrative Code § 18-146 and 1 RCNY § 1-05(r)(2), drone operations on any NYC Parks Department-managed land are restricted to five designated model aircraft fields. Fort Greene Park is not one of them.

This ban applies to all drones regardless of size, weight, or purpose—recreational and commercial alike. It covers takeoff, landing, and flight within the park boundaries.

What About Launching From Outside the Park?

Even if you launch from private property or a street adjacent to Fort Greene Park, flying your drone over the park may still violate NYC Parks rules. The restriction covers drone operations within park boundaries, not only launches from park land.

Additionally, any takeoff from a non-park location in NYC still requires an NYPD Unmanned Aircraft Permit under § 10-126 and 38 RCNY Chapter 24.

Airspace Above Fort Greene

Fort Greene sits within New York Class B airspace. The LAANC grid ceiling in this area is likely very low or at 0 ft AGL, reflecting its proximity to downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan. Even with all city-level permits, FAA airspace authorization through LAANC or DroneZone is a separate, mandatory requirement.

Legal Alternatives

If you want to fly a drone in Brooklyn, the closest designated model aircraft fields are:

• Calvert Vaux Park — Gravesend/Bensonhurst area
• Marine Park — Gerritsen Avenue between Seba and Lois Avenues

Both are exempt from the NYPD permit requirement under 38 RCNY § 24-02(b)(1). FAA rules—including Part 107 or TRUST compliance, LAANC authorization, and Remote ID—still apply at these locations.

Consequences of Flying in the Park

Flying a drone in Fort Greene Park can result in both Parks Department enforcement and NYPD action. Civil penalties under 38 RCNY § 24-07 start at $250, and a violation of § 10-126 is classified as a misdemeanor. Your drone may also be seized as evidence.