Ditmas Park West
Neighborhood Associationest. 1969
About · Founded 1969

Fifteen blocks, fifty-seven years, fifteen dollars.

We’re a volunteer association: a handful of neighbors who put on events, plant trees, build neighborly connections, and answer questions when we know the answer. We’re not an HOA. We’re not a 501(c)(3). We can’t make anyone do anything, and we have no opinion about your fence.

What we do
  • +Plant and maintain street trees (~5 a year)
  • +Run social events: Block Party, Progressive Dinner, and more
  • +Publish a 'monthly' newsletter
  • +Maintain the civic cheat sheet (311, CB14, Council, Precinct)
  • +Liaise with Community Board 14 on neighborhood-level issues
  • +Photograph events and keep a public archive
  • +Run tree care and neighborhood cleanup events
What we don’t do
  • Tell you what color to paint your house
  • Approve renovations or fences (but you may need to ask LPC)
  • Mediate disputes between neighbors
  • Lobby for or against any political candidate
  • Manage a Slack, Discord, or WhatsApp
  • Issue tickets, fines, or strongly-worded letters

A short history.

1969 → today
1969

DPWNA founded by 14(?) neighbors meeting on Westminster(?), for some reason(?).

1978

David Ford plants tree nº 001, a Red Maple on Rugby Rd. Still standing.

1987

100th tree planted — a London planetree on Argyle.

1989

First Block Party closes Marlborough to traffic for an evening. The permit takes seven phone calls.

1994

The Progressive Dinner becomes a regular event after one chaotic, beloved test run.

2012

Sandy. The association coordinates generators and food drops for the four households without power for a week.

2024

Tree nº 297 goes in on Marlborough, planted by the Henderson kids.

2026

Site redesign. Newsletter list passes 400 households.

Where is Ditmas Park West?

Coney Island Ave to Marlborough. Cortelyou to Newkirk.

We’re a sliver of Flatbush, north of Brooklyn College, west of “Ditmas Park”, and east of Kensington. About 15 blocks, ~600 households.

  • City Council · District 40
  • Community Board · 14
  • Police · 70th Precinct
  • Subway · Cortelyou (Q), Newkirk (B/Q)
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