Car-free Prospect for the new year

BROOKLYN’S Prospect Park will become totally off-limits to cars in January, Mayor de Blasio announced Monday.

“The park was built before the automobile existed,” de Blasio said, near its entrance at Grand Army Plaza. “The park was not built with cars in mind. They didn’t exist. The park was built for people.”

The announcement comes after a pilot program this summer banned cars from the park for two months.

The park’s West Drive was made car-free two years ago, but the eastern route has remained open on weekdays, save for the summer program.

Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told reporters the time between now and Jan. 2 will be used to improve signal timing at intersections on the southeastern side of the park to minimize the amount of traffic that will be shifted there.