On Thursday, May 18 , Brooklyn Borough Presiden t Marty Markowitz joined Cit y Council Member Letitia James, Fort Greene Park Conservancy President Charles Jarden , and special guest David McC ullough, Pulitzer Prize- winning author of the bestselling book 1776 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the grand re - opening of the historic Fort Greene Park Visitors Center.

“W e wouldn’t be here today without the tireless dedication, research, and civic pride of so many nei ghborhood residents, including C harles J arden and honora ry Brooklynite David McCullough,” said Borough President Markowitz. “When you’re up on the hill in F ort G reene P ark, looking out over one of the most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods anywhere in A merica, with stunning views of the outer borough of M anhattan stretched out in front of you, it really does feel like you’re on top of the world. ”

Fort Greene Park was Brooklyn’s first official park, founded in 1847 as Washington Park. For the past year, the Department of Parks & Recreation partnered with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy to re - open the Fort Greene Park Visitors Center through an in-house restoration project. The Boroug h President’s office contributed $795,000 to the project, in addition to funds from the May or’s office, the City Council, and the Fort Greene Park Co nservancy totaling $4.3 million . Volunteers from local Boy Scout Troop 237 and P.S. 46 helped clean and paint the building.

David McCullough, author of works including Truman and The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, advocated for the Revolutionary War’ s history to be told at the Visitors Center . Among the artifacts on display are four Revolutionary War musket balls and several buttons from British and Hessian uniforms that were discovered in Fort Greene Park in the past year.