The Great Read: Why Can’t Parkland Be Used as a Park? Ask the Judges Who Park There.
A decades-old fight over a parking lot reserved for judges in Brooklyn has picked up steam with a new generation of combatants.
The New York Times
The Great Read
April 29, 2026, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

A sign saying “Columbus Park” is affixed to a low fence, with a leaf-strewn lawn in front of a parking lot.

Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times

Why Can’t Parkland Be Used as a Park? Ask the Judges Who Park There.

A decades-old fight over a parking lot reserved for judges in Brooklyn has picked up steam with a new generation of combatants.

Open now

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for top stories or great reads from The New York Times.

To stop receiving The Great Read, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

Zeta LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018