In a quiet corner of Brooklyn, as the city slowly stirs to life with its usual brunches and morning jogs, a quiet revolution is taking shape. Dozens of dads, armed with strollers, diaper bags, and sleepy toddlers, gather in McCarren Park on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, for a meetup that has become much more than just a walk. This is the Brooklyn Stroll Club, founded by 32-year-old new dad Joe Gonzales, who turned a personal need into a growing community movement.
What began as a simple idea, walking with other parents to feel less alone, quickly evolved into a deeper necessity. As reported by The New York Times, participants now come from all over the city, and even as far as the Catskills. Between jokes about baby food and sleepless nights, conversations shift to strollers and sleek new models imported from Japan. Bonds are formed quickly, united by a shared commitment to being present, mindful, and the best possible fathers.
Gonzales explained that while moms have long created strong support networks, dads are often left feeling isolated. Not having friends with kids in the city himself, he felt the urge to connect with others going through the same stage of life. His call into the void of the internet was immediately answered, and his Discord channel now has over a thousand members.
Every event is an instant sell-out. Free tickets disappear within minutes, as one young father, unable to grab a spot for the next meetup, shared. Even during winter, when cold weather pushes the group into limited indoor spaces, the dads don’t give up on meeting each other.
On Saturday mornings, the group strolls through the neighborhood with purpose, kids in tow. No tantrums, just smiles and shared stories, often about the partners they left at home. Once they arrive at the Canopy play space, shoes come off and the exchange of tips, snacks, and experiences begins to flow.
Some arrive straight from overnight shifts, others take Ubers from across the boroughs, but all share the same drive: to raise healthy children, break old patterns, and no longer feel alone.
Rene Jimenez, an assistant dean at a private school, shared that fatherhood initially made him feel excluded. He stressed how important it is to be part of a collective of men striving to be emotionally engaged, present fathers, and to change the generational patterns of the past.
