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 4^th, 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

Bronx

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

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

Bronx:

Manhattan:

Queens

Staten Island

The following streets will be removed from the Open Streets Program, and return to normal traffic patterns:

Brooklyn:

Bronx:

Manhattan:

Queens:

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.)