The Open Streets initiative provides more open space for pedestrians by limiting vehicular traffic. Image Credit: CityLand
The Open Streets and the new Play Streets initiatives encourage New Yorkers to go outside. On July 24, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Play Streets, an initiative provided by the City, the Fresh Air Fund, Building Healthy Communities, and the Police Athletic League to provide children with fun, socially-distant outdoor activities on twelve Open Streets throughout the City. The Open Streets initiative provides more outdoor space for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting vehicular traffic on specified streets. Mayor de Blasio also announced some streets that will be added and removed from the Open Streets program.
Play Streets
The twelve Play Streets will be located across the City, including streets that are adjacent to NYCHA developments, as part of the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety. Play Streets will be opened on a rolling basis starting the week of July 27, 2020 and will generally operate Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM through September 4th, although hours of operation may vary at each location. During hours of street closure, vehicles will not be permitted on Play Streets.
Activities that will be provided on Play Streets include independent art and crafting projects such as making kaleidoscopes, birdhouses, rhythm drums, and cloud climbers; giant board games; sports drills including basketball, frisbee, softball, wiffleball, kickball, and laser tag; and reading corners, dance classes, cardio and yoga exercises, and lastly, a no-touch obstacle course called PLAY NYC. 160 custom benches will also be installed on Play Streets.
Play Streets will be located in the following areas:
Brooklyn
| Location | Operating From/Until | Operating Days | Operating Times |
| Sunset Park, 6th Ave, from 44th St to 45th St. | 8/5/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th
|
10am -4pm
|
| Crown Heights, Park Pl, from New York Ave to Kingston Ave | 8/3/20 – 9/4/20
|
M,T,W,Th
|
10am -4pm
|
| Brownsville, Blake Ave, from Powell St to Mother Gaston Blvd | 7/27/20 – 9/4/20
|
M,T,W,Th
|
12pm – 5pm
|
| Bushwick, Humboldt St from Moore St to Varet St | 7/27/20 – 9/4/20
|
M,T,W,Th
|
12pm – 5pm
|
Bronx
| Location | Operating From/Until | Operating Days | Operating Times |
| Quarry Ballfields/Belmont, Oak Tree Pl from Hughes Ave to Quarry Rd | 8/3/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th | 10am -4pm
|
| Mt. Eden / Highbridge, Cromwell Ave from McClellan St to Jerome Ave. | 8/3/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th | 10am -4pm
|
Manhattan
| Location | Operating From/Until | Operating Days | Operating Times |
| Harlem, 150th St, from St. Nicholas Pl to Edgecombe Ave | 8/5/20- 9/4/20
|
M,T,W,Th
|
10am -4pm
|
| Harlem, 129th St, from Adam Clayton Powell Blvd to Frederick Douglas Blvd | 7/27/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th
|
12pm – 5pm
|
Queens
| Location | Operating From/Until | Operating Days | Operating Times |
| Jackson Heights/Corona, 34th Ave from 72nd St to 74th St | 7/30/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th | 10am -4pm |
| Jackson Heights/Corona, 34th Ave from 79th St to 80th St | 7/30/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th | 10am -4pm |
| Jackson Heights/Corona, 34th Ave from 92nd St to 94th St | 7/30/20 – 9/4/20 | M,T,W,Th | 10am -4pm |
Staten Island
| Location | Operating From/Until | Operating Days | Operating Times |
| Stapleton, Wright St from Canal St to Thompson St | 8/7/20 – 9/4/20 | F | 12pm – 4pm |
Mayor Bill de Blasio stated, “Young people deserve the chance to play freely in their neighborhoods while staying safe from COVID-19, and Play Streets will go a long way toward easing the burden of a summer unlike any other. Rebuilding a fairer and better city means using our urban landscape creatively, and I’m proud to build on the success of our Open Streets program by finding exciting and productive uses for city streets.”
Frederick J. Watts, Executive Director of the Police Athletic League stated, “The Police Athletic League is grateful for the City’s support in allowing us to provide safe recreational activities for youth this summer. PAL feels it is important to provide safe recreational options for young people, and our Play Street model allows us to do that. Health and safety for our participants and staff is our highest priority. We are looking forward to serving young people this summer.”
Open Streets
Under the City’s Open Streets program, pedestrians and cyclists are able to use the roadbed of designated streets across the City from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. The only vehicle traffic that is permitted on these streets include local deliveries, pick-ups/drop-offs, necessary city service, utility, and emergency vehicles, and these drivers must travel at 5 MPH on these streets. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the Open Streets program, click here.
The following Open Streets will be added:
Brooklyn
| Street | From | To |
| Wolcott St | Conover St | Van Brunt St |
| Jefferson Ave | Patchen Ave | Malcom X Blvd |
Bronx:
| Street | From | To |
| 169th St | 3rd Ave | Webster Ave |
Manhattan:
| Street | From | To |
| Thompson St | West 3rd St | Washington Sq South |
| Broome St | Allen St | Ludlow St |
| Jane St | Hudson St | 8th Ave |
| East 90th St | 5th Ave | Madison Ave |
Queens
| Street | From | To |
| 31st Ave | 31st St | 36th St |
| Dutch Kills | Jackson Ave | Sunnyside Yards |
| 47th St | 39th Ave | Skillman Ave |
| 49th St | 39th Ave | Skillman Ave |
Staten Island
| Street | From | To |
| Wright St | Canal St | Thompson St |
| Henderson Ave | Broadway | Alaska St |
| New St | Cottage Pl | Jewett Ave |
The following streets will be removed from the Open Streets Program, and return to normal traffic patterns:
Brooklyn:
| Street | From | To |
| Prospect Park West | Garfield Pl | 3rd St |
| Parkside Ave | Park Circle | Ocean Ave |
| East 7th St | Caton St | Ditmas Ave |
Bronx:
| Street | From | To |
| Louis Nine Blvd | Intervale Ave | Southern Blvd |
Manhattan:
| Street | From | To |
| West 51st St | 9th Ave | 10th Ave |
| 29th St | Broadway | Madison Ave |
Queens:
| Street | From | To |
| 5th St | 46th Ave | 49th Ave |
| Center Blvd | 57th Ave | Borden Ave |
| 27th St | 43rd Ave | Queens Plaza North |
| 85th St | 25th Ave | 30th Ave |
Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, stated, “Streets are meant to connect people to each other. The expansion of Open Streets demonstrates how we can continue to reimagine and transform our roads to better serve New Yorkers, keep our air cleaner with less polluting vehicles, and stay safer during the summer heat waves.”
By: Victoria Agosta (Victoria is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2022.)