Brooklyn Landmarks You’ll Spot During The Half Marathon

Apr 3, 2025

A woman in athletic clothing runs with outstretched arms on a city street, wearing a race bib numbered 34956. Buildings and a bridge are visible in the background.

Brooklyn Org is proud to partner with the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon, which takes runners on a 13.1-mile tour of the borough we call home on Sunday, April 27.

Marathon days are some of the best days to be in New York. Streets close, neighbors gather on stoops, and the whole city slows down to cheer each other on. When the route winds through Brooklyn, the energy feels even more special: part block party, part family reunion, all borough pride.

Join us at the BKO cheering section outside the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway (between Washington and Underhill Avenues) to get a free piece of Brooklyn Org merch!

Whether you’re running, cheering, or just there for the vibes, here are five sights you’ll encounter along the way:

McCarren Park – Williamsburg/Greenpoint
The starting line sits where Polish bakeries meet Dominican barbershops, indie bookstores, and (a few blocks later) Hasidic bakeries. It’s a mashup you’ll only find here and the perfect launchpad for your North Brooklyn start.
Almost All The Bridges (Kent Ave Waterfront)
Williamsburg, Manhattan, Brooklyn: you’ll pass under all three iconic bridges back-to-back, in that order. A dream for Brooklynites and tourists alike. Think of the hum of the BQE as your hype playlist! As you pass the Brooklyn Navy Yard between the Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges, wave to our partners at Brooklyn Book Bodega and Black Trans Femmes in the Arts!
Fulton & Flatbush – Downtown Brooklyn
Running down Flatbush, keep your eyes peeled for some of Brooklyn’s most important arts institutions: 651 ARTS, BAM, Mark Morris Dance Center, the Center for Fiction. Take a short detour on Atlantic Avenue, and you’ll spot our “Show Brooklyn Some Love” mural painted by Groundswell!
Grand Army Plaza & Eastern Parkway
Around mile 9, you’ll jog past the Central Library, Botanic Garden, and Brooklyn Museum—the power trio of weekend activities and family outings. Bonus points if you pause for a cherry blossom selfie — keep track on the Botanic Garden’s cherry watch map to see when they’ll be in peak bloom!
Prospect Park – The Finish Line
You’ll end with a near full lap through Brooklyn’s backyard, weaving past cookouts, drum circles, farmers markets, and soccer leagues. There’s no better place to finish out strong and find a sunny spot at a picnic table or the lawn to celebrate with friends and family!

Want to make your miles matter? Join Brooklyn Org’s team and help raise funds to support communities and movements across our borough. A guaranteed entry spot is available for $1,000— merch and eternal borough bragging rights included!