Brooklyn Landmarks Named After Influential Women

In recent years, there has been growing momentum to rename public places in ways that better reflect the women who made lasting contributions to society. Brooklyn offers a powerful collection of these names, found throughout our local streets, parks and cultural institutions.

Streets

Ida B Wells | Smithsonian Institution

Ida B. Wells Place

Downtown Brooklyn

Born into slavery, Ida B. Wells later became a teacher and journalist for Black newspapers. During her time in Brooklyn, she lived on Gold Street. In 2020, thanks to help from the Harlem Historical Society, a portion of Gold Street was renamed Ida B. Wells Place to honor this pioneering civil rights journalist and activist.

Mother Gaston Boulevard

Brownsville

This street honors Rosetta “Mother” Gaston, a Black activist who organized a Negro History study group and established the Brownsville chapter of the Association for the Study of African America Life and History.

Harriet Tubman Way

Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, East New York

Born into slavery in 1822, Harriet Tubman escaped and went on to become an Underground Railroad conductor, dedicating her life to the abolitionist and suffragist movements. In 2005, a portion of Fulton Street was renamed in her honor.

Mary Pinkett Avenue

Crown Heights, Prospect Heights

Lifelong Brooklynite and the first Black woman elected to serve on the NYC Council, Mary Pinkett represented the 35th Council District for three decades. In 2005, a portion of Washington Avenue was co-named in her honor.

Learn more about NYC street co-naming here.

Parks and Playgrounds

Eleanor Roosevelt | Library of Congress

Eleanor Roosevelt Playground

Bed-Stuy

Currently under reconstruction and scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026, this playground pays homage to Eleanor Roosevelt, a global spokesperson, lecturer and news columnist who championed social reform, women’s rights and racial equality. She was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt and wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Betty Carter Park

Fort Greene

Named for jazz singer Betty Carter, a Fort Greene resident known for her scatting, bebop and improvisational talents, and lasting influence on young musicians. Greene was also one of the first jazz musicians to start her own label.

Lady Moody Triangle

Gravesend

This small but mighty green space is named after Lady Deborah Moody, a wealthy widow born in the 1580s who became the first woman in the colonies to receive a land patent. She is also credited with naming Gravesend.

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Williamsburg

Spanning 7 acres along the Brooklyn waterfront, this park was renamed from East River State Park in 2020 to honor Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans activist and key figure in the LGBTQ rights movement.

Maria Hernandez Park

Bushwick

The largest community park in Bushwick is named after Maria Hernandez, a neighborhood activist who fought for clean streets and worked to rid her block of drug dealers. Hernandez also organized block parties, athletic activities and other community gatherings.

Betsy Head Park

Brownsville

Built over 100 years ago and revamped in 2021, Brownsville’s biggest park honors Betsy Head, a wealthy widow and philanthropist who donated her estate to NYC with the condition that half be used for child welfare charities and the remainder for health and recreation.

Shirley Chisholm Circle at Brower Park

Crown Heights

Dedicated in 2016, this circular terrace honors Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, an educator, social justice advocate and trailblazing politician. She was the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress and first Black candidate to seek presidential nomination of a major party.

Currently under construction in East Flatbush at Nostrand Playground, the LEED Gold-certified Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center will include 74,000 square feet of facilities including an indoor pool, gym, walking track, public plaza and teaching kitchen.

Additional Sites

Billie Holiday | Library of Congress

The Billie Holiday Theatre

Bed-Stuy

This award-winning Off-Broadway theatre in historic Bed-Stuy honors Jazz icon Billie Holiday, the first Black woman to work with an all-white band. The theatre’s mission is to “provide audiences with complete and authentic portrayals of the experiences of people of African descent across the world.”

Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art

Prospect Heights

Located within Brooklyn Museum, this exhibition and education space opened in 2007 thanks to Elizabeth A. Sackler, a historian, social activist and American Indian advocate. Its mission is to raise awareness of feminist culture, educate about feminist art, maintain a learning facility and present feminism in an approachable, relevant way.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Plaza

Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights

In 2021, the Downtown Brooklyn Municipal Building was renamed after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a longtime Brooklyn resident and outspoken advocate for gender equality. Ginsburg was the second woman and first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

She also has a street co-named after her in Midwood.

Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo

After purchasing the historic carousel at auction along with her husband in 1984, artist Jane Walentas began restoration in her Dumbo studio. The painstaking process included carpentry repairs, hand-scraping decades of paint, repainting and rewiring.

These landmarks do more than mark places on a map. They serve as daily reminders of the many women who helped shape Brooklyn’s history, culture and civic life. Whether tucked into a neighborhood park or spanning major thoroughfares, they ensure women’s stories remain visible and top of mind.

Looking for more ways to celebrate NYC women during Women’s History Month? Check out our posts on Brooklyn women-run restaurants and New York’s female inventors.