Coronavirus

Here Is the Next Round of Streets Opening Up to Pedestrians in NYC

The ultimate goal is to open up to 100 miles of streets to pedestrians

NBC Universal, Inc.

What to Know

  • New York City aims to open up to 100 miles of streets as a means to provide additional open space to residents
  • The first round opened earlier this month, followed by a two more rounds in the days following before this fourth round
  • On Friday the city listed out another 13 miles of streets that will open for pedestrians

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the next phase of streets that will ban traffic and open up for pedestrians, part of a plan that aims to open up to 100 miles of streets for open space while ensuring that social distancing norms are maintained.

In the latest round of street openings, an additional 13 miles of streets will be designated for pedestrians only starting this Memorial Day Weekend. Some will be opened in conjunction with business improvement districts or local partners, others will be city streets with police enforcement and some will be near parks.

Click here for a detailed map from the city.

The latest list from the fourth round of street openings:

Local Partner Management
PartnerBoroStreetFromToMileageNotes
Red Hook InitiativeBK9th StHenry StHicks St0.089a-6p Sat
Village AllianceMNUniversity Place13th St4th St0.418:30a-1:30p Sun
Village AllianceMNMacDougal4th St8th St0.158:30a-1:30p Sun
Hudson Sq BIDMNGreenwich StCanal StSpring St0.0810a-4p all days
Alliance for Downtown NYMNPearl StState StCedar St0.4611a-3p all days
Chinatown District MNDoyers StPell StBowery0.0510a-7p all days
Alliance for Kips BayMN2nd Ave Service Rd33rd St30th St0.138a-8p all days
Bedford Stuyvesant Gateway BIDBKArlington PlMacon StFulton St0.07Thurs 10-2p
Times Square AllianceMNBroadway47th St53rd St0.308a-8p all days
Times Square AllianceMNBroadway42nd St41st St0.058a-8p all days
Total mileage1.78
Local Precinct Management
NeighborhoodBoroStreetFromToMileage
Bed-StuyBKSomers StRockaway AveFulton St0.11
WilliamsburgBKS 9th StBerry StDriggs Ave0.17
WilliamsburgBKGrand StRoebling StMarcy Ave0.16
Prospect HeightsBKUnderhill AveSt. Johns PlBergen St0.32
Prospect HeightsBKCarlton AvePark PlBergen St0.18
South Richmond HillQN120th St94th AveLiberty Ave0.53
Greenwich Village MNJones StBleecker StW 4th St0.09
East VillageMNAve B6th St14th St0.39
Manhattan ValleyMN103rd StBroadwayRiverside Dr0.16
ChelseaMN22nd St8th Ave7th Ave0.16
GramercyMNIrving Place16th St20th St0.18
KensingtonBKChester AveFt. Hamilton ParkwayChurch Ave0.32
Fort GreeneBKWilloughby AveWashington Park StHall St0.41
Crown HeightsBKPark PlNew York AveKingston Ave0.29
Crown HeightsBKTroy AveSt. Johns PlEastern Parkway0.10
Rego ParkQN99th StHorace Harding66th Ave0.52
SunnysideQN50th Ave48th St44th St0.19
Forest HillsQN66th Rd110th StGrand Central Pkwy0.15
Prospect HeightsBKLincoln PlWashington StBedford Ave0.41
Bed-StuyBKMacon StArlington PlTompkins Ave0.40
Boerum HillBKState St3rd AveSmith St 0.50
HomecrestBK16th StAve RMoore Pl0.11
HomecrestBKMoore Pl16th St17th0.11
Brooklyn HeightsBKWillow StMiddagh StPierrepont St0.33
SeaportMNFront StBeekman StPeck Slip0.08
HarlemMN117thMorningside Ave5th Ave0.70
ChelseaMN21st St9th Ave10th Ave0.16
Hells KitchenMN51st St9th Ave10th Ave0.16
HarlemMN138thLenox AveAdam Clayton Powell Blvd0.15
WilliamsburgBKN. 3rd StKent AveMetropolitan Ave0.32
BrownsvilleBKWilliams AveLiberty AveAtlantic Ave0.11
Castle HillBXPugsleyBruckner BlvdTurnbull Ave0.20
MaspethQN60th StreetLaurel Hill Blvd47th Ave0.12
Forest HillsQNAscan AveQueens BlvdAustin St0.07
Park SlopeBKButler StGregory Pl4th Ave0.14
Park SlopeBKGregory PlBaltic StButler St0.14
Bay RidgeBKColonial Rd86th St83rd St0.16
JamaicaQN107th Ave159th St160th St0.03
JamaicaQN108th Ave159th St160th St0.03
JamaicaQN159th St108th Ave109th Ave0.12
JamaicaQN109th Ave159th St160th St0.03
Total mileage    8.76
Adjacent Park Roads
Hunters PtQNCenter Blvd57th AveBorden Ave0.23
Green Central Knoll ParkBKNoll StEvergreen AveCentral Ave0.09
Plaut TriangleQN169th StNorthern Blvd43rd Ave0.03
Gorman PlaygroundQN85th Street25th Ave30th Ave0.13
Nicholas Naquan Heyward ParkBKWyckoff StBond StHoyt St0.12
Charles Young PlaygroundMN143rd StMalcolm X Blvd5th Ave0.16
Stuyvesant Sq ParkMNRutherford Pl15th St17th St0.09
Stuyvesant Sq Park MN16th Street3rd AveRutherford Pl0.08
Morningside ParkMNMorningside AveManhattan Ave116th0.16
Yellowstone ParkQN68th Rd108th StYellowstone Blvd0.10
Painter's PlaygroundQNDieterle CrescentAlderton St65th Dr0.13
Carroll ParkBKCarroll StCourt StSmith St0.10
McGolrick ParkBKRussell StNassau AveDriggs Ave0.17
Betsy Head ParkBKDumont AveThomas Boyland StStrauss St0.14
Baisley Pond ParkQNBarron St116th Ave Foch Blvd0.13
Baisley Pond Park QN Lakeview Blvd E 118th Ave 122nd Ave 0.34
Baisley Pond Park QN 155th St 119th Ave 125th Ave 0.32
Baisley Pond Park QN Lakeview Lane 122nd Ave Baisley Blvd 0.12
Baisley Pond Park QN 122nd Ave Lakeview Blvd E Lakeview Ln 0.08
Total mileage2.72

The third-round list:

Local Partner Management
Partner Boro Street From To Mileage Notes
Sunnyside Shines QN 46th Street Queens Blvd Greenpoint Ave 0.05 8a-8p Sat-Sun
Park Slope 5th Ave BID BK 4th St 5th Ave 4th Ave 0.07 10a-6p all days
Flatbush Development Corporation BK Newkirk Ave Coney Island Ave E 17th St 0.34 3p-7p Tues and Thurs
Pine Box Rock Shop/Bushwick BK Grattan St Morgan Ave Bogart St 0.08 10a-8p Weds-Sun
Concrete Safaris/Harlem MN 115th Street Park Ave 3rd Ave 0.18 2pm-5:30 weekdays
Meatpacking BID MN 13th Street 9th Ave Washington St 0.13 8a-8p all days
Meatpacking BID MN 17th St 10th Ave 8th Ave 0.33 8a-8p all days
Meatpacking BID MN Little W 12 9th Ave Washington St 0.09 8a-8p all days
Hudson Yards/HK Alliance MN Hudson Blvd East 35th St 36th 0.04 8a-8p all days
Hudson Yards/HK Alliance MN Hudson Blvd West 35th St 36th 0.04 8a-8p all days
Total mileage 1.35
Local Precinct Management
Neighborhood Boro Street From To Mileage
Kingsbridge BX W 238th Street Tibbett Ave  Irwin Ave 0.05
Mott Haven BX 140th Street Brook Ave Willis Ave 0.02
Jackson Heights QN 34th Ave 78th Street Junction Blvd 0.89
Sunnyside QN Skillman Ave 39th Pl 43rd St 0.19
Sunnyside Qn 39th Ave Woodside Ave Barnett Ave 0.43
LIC QN 5th Street 46th Ave 49th Ave 0.28
LIC QN 27th St Hunter St Queens Plaza S 0.16
Flushing QN Roosevelt Ave 155th St Northern Blvd 0.09
Flushing QN Peck Ave 137th St Main 0.10
Crown Heights BK Prospect Pl New York Ave Brooklyn Ave 0.14
Sunset Park BK 6th Ave 44th St 51st St 0.34
Carroll Gardens BK 1st Pl Smith St Henry St 0.30
Carroll Gardens BK 2nd Pl Smith St Henry St 0.30
Carroll Gardens BK 4th Pl Smith St Henry St 0.30
Williamsburg BK Berry St N 12th Broadway 0.90
Brooklyn Heights BK Joralemon Street Hicks Street Furman Street 0.14
Boerum Hill BK St. Marks Place 3rd Ave 4th Ave 0.13
Kensington BK East 7th St Caton Ave Ditmas Ave 0.78
Clinton Hill BK Hall St Park Ave Myrtle Ave 0.15
Fort Greene BK S Portland Ave S Elliot St Dekalb Ave 0.41
Upper West Side MN West End Ave 87th St 96th St 0.44
Upper West Side MN 75th St Broadway Riverside Dr 0.20
Harlem MN 114th St Manhattan Ave Frederick Douglass Blvd 0.08
Morris Park BX Rhinelander Ave Williamsbridge Rd Bronxdale Ave 0.50
Fordham Heights BX Creston Ave Fordham Road Kingsbridge Rd 0.31
Total mileage 7.63
Adjacent Park Roads
Park/Neighborhood Boro Street From To Mileage
Quarry Ballfields/Belmont BX Oak Tree Place Hughes Ave Quarry Pl 0.14
River Park/West Farms  BX Boston Road 180th Street Bronx Park S 0.10
Bronx Park S Boston Road Bryant Ave 0.05
St. Mary's Park/South Bronx BX Jackson Ave 143rd St 147th St 0.21
McCarren Park/Greenpoint BK Nassau Banker St Lorimer St 0.14
Maria Hernandez Park/Bushwick BK Suydam St Knickerbocker Ave Irving Ave 0.13
Cooper Park/E Williamsburg BK Sharon St Morgan Ave Olive St 0.16
Sternberg Park/Bushwick BK Leonard St Montrose Ave Boerum St 0.10
Korean War Veterans Plaza/Bk Heights BK Cadman Plaza East Johnson St Tillary St 0.07
Dome Playground/Kensington BK 38th Street Dahill Road 15th Ave 0.37
Cobble Hill Park/Cobble Hill BK Congress St Clinton St Henry St 0.10
Jackie Robinson Park/Hamilton Heights MN Edgecombe Ave St. Nicholas Pl 145th St 0.51
Claremont Park/Claremont BX Clay Ave 173rd St Claremont Parkway 0.25
North Shore Esplande Park/St. George SI Bank Street Jersey St Parking Garage Driveway 0.50
Total mileage 2.83

The second phase was:

  • Broadway from 21st Street to 23rd Street (Flatiron)
  • Broadway from 24th Street to 28th Street (Flatiron)
  • Broadway from 36th Street to 41st Street (Midtown)
  • Orchard Street from Delancey Street to Houston Street (Lower East Side)
  • Ludlow Street from Delancey Street to Houston Street (Lower East Side)
  • Stanton Street from Allen Street to Essex Street (Lower East Side)
  • Rivington Street from Allen Street to Essex Street (Lower East Side)
  • Willoughby Street from Pearl Street to Lawrence Street (Brooklyn)
  • Lawrence Street from Fulton Street and Willoughby Street (Brooklyn)
  • Willis Avenue from 147th Street to 148th Street (Bronx)
  • 148th Street from Willis Avenue to Bergen Avenue (Bronx)
  • 34th Avenue from 69th Street to 77th Street (Jackson Heights, Queens)

The first streets were:

INSIDE PARKS

  • Fort Tryon Park
  • Flushing Meadows
  • Forest Hill Park
  • Callahan-Kelly Park
  • Grant Park
  • Silver Lake Park

ADJACENT TO PARKS

  • Williamsbridge Oval
  • Court Square
  • Carl Schurz
  • Highbridge Park
  • Prospect Park
  • Stapleton Waterfront Park
  • Lt. William Tighe Triangle

This latest addition of streets brings the city to 43 miles of open streets since its launch in April, and exceeds the mayor's goal of 40 miles by the end of May. THe ultimate goal was eventually expanding to 100 miles of open streets. According to City Hall, NYC now has more miles of open streets than any other city in America.

"The way we will do it is we are going to focus first on streets in and around our  parks. [We are] very concerned about the streets around parks. Often times we are seeing that immediate area getting very crowded," de Blasio said at the time. "Those streets adjacent to parks are an obvious opportunity to open up more space. We are going to work together to figure out how we are going to do that."

De Blasio went on to explain that some other locations will see sidewalks expansion similar to what was done around Rockefeller Center during the winter holidays where the sidewalks space was opened up into the streets a bit more with proper barricades in place for safety.

"Some streets will be more local areas that aren’t necessarily going to be where you have a major attraction like a park but they are places where we can safely open up some space and have it be enforced," he said. "And another piece of discussion is early action bike lanes where we see an opportunity to do more with bike lanes."

According to de Blasio, the city will focus first on where the need is greatest.

"So many communities that we have already identified have been already hard hit by COVID we want to be particularly sensitive to implementing these kind of steps," de Blasio said, adding that it will be a joint effort between the City Council, working with the police department, transportation department, sanitation department, parks department to figure "out all the right places we can do this, but first priority are the places hardest hit and then of course figuring out where they’ll have the biggest impact where the most people are."

This is the second attempt at closing down city streets in order to provide more open space to residents, while still keeping social distancing norms during the COVID-19 crisis.

Earlier this month, New York City abandoned a pilot project to open major streets in each borough for pedestrian open space, citing the demand on NYPD resources as more and more cops call out sick.

The city had closed a series of major thoroughfares from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for a couple of weeks. However, in a statement at that time, de Blasio's office said it was taking more than 80 cops a day to effect the closures, and not enough people were using the newly opened streets to justify that level of resource commitment.

It now appears that the mayor' office has changed course, and now will be opening up even more streets as the warmer spring weather approaches.

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