Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city will add 1.72 more miles of Open Streets, and also will increase the hours of certain open streets to become Open Play Streets to give families and children more options throughout the rest of the summer. At the same time, the city announced in a press release that it will be removing 2.77 miles of Open Streets from the program and return them to vehicular traffic.
De Blasio, noting that kids have not been able "to get as much physical activity and play," announced, "We're going to open up something again, a good NYC tradition that's been so great for kids: Play Streets are coming back, and that is going to be an important step forward for kids and families to have something to enjoy."
At the various Play Streets locations, children will be able to participate in crafting and art projects that include making kaleidoscopes, birdhouses, rhythm drums, and cloud climbers. There will be games including Connect 4 and Jenga, as well as sports drills including basketball, frisbee, softball, Wiffle ball, kickball, and laser tag. There will also be dance classes, yoga exercises, outdoor furniture, new benches and a no-touch obstacle course, all designed to meet social distancing guidelines.
Play Streets will operate most weekdays through September 4th. Hours vary by location, but will generally be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many are adjacent to NYCHA developments, and will be operated by local groups. You can see the full list of streets that have been announced so far below.
Open Play Streets
Brooklyn
Sunset Park: 6th Avenue between 44th Street and 45th Street (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From August 5th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crown Heights: Park Place between New York Avenue and Kingston Avenue (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From August 3rd to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Brownsville: Blake Avenue between Powell Street and Mother Gaston Blvd (Organizer: PAL) From July 27th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bushwick: Humboldt Street between Moore Street and Varet Street (Organizer: PAL) From July 27th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Bronx
Quarry Ballfields/Belmont: Oak Tree Place between Hughes Avenue and Quarry Road (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From August 3rd to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mt. Eden/Highbridge: Cromwell Avenue between McClellan Street and Jerome Avenue (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From August 3rd to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Manhattan
Harlem: 150th Street between St. Nicholas Place and Edgecombe Avenue (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From August 5th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Harlem: 129th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick Douglas Boulevard (Organizer: PAL) From July 27th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Queens
Jackson Heights/Corona: 34th Avenue between 72nd Street and 74th Street (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From July 30th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jackson Heights/Corona: 34th Avenue between 79th Street and 80th Street (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From July 30th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jackson Heights/Corona: 34th Avenue between 92nd Street and 94th Street (Organizer: Fresh Air Fund) From July 30th to September 4th, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staten Island
Stapleton: Wright Street between Canal Street and Thompson Street (Organizer: The Central Family Life Center) From August 7th to September 4th, Fridays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Below, you can find the locations for the 1.72 miles of new Open Streets. There's 1.11 miles worth of open streets run by local groups, and another .6 miles of streets run by local precincts.
Open Streets (Run By Local Partners)
Brooklyn
Wolcott Street between Conover Street and Van Brunt Street (Organizer: Good Shepherd Services)
Jefferson Avenue between Patchen Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard (Organizer: 700 Jefferson Avenue Block Association)
Manhattan
Thompson Street between West 3rd Street and Washington Sq South (Organizer: Judson Memorial Church)
Broome Street between Allen Street and Ludlow Street (Organizer: LES BID)
Queens
31st Avenue between 31st Street and 36th Street (Organizer: 1st Ave Open Street Collective)
Dutch Kills between Jackson Avenue and Sunnyside Yards(Organizer: Rockrose)
47th Street between 39th Avenue and Skillman Avenue (Organizer: 39th Ave Open Street Coalition)
49th Street between 39th Avenue and Skillman Avenue (Organizer: 39th Ave Open Street Coalition)
Staten Island
Wright Street between Canal Street and Thompson Street (Organizer: Streets Lab)
Open Streets (Run By Local Precincts)
Bronx: 169th Street between 3rd Avenue and Webster Avenue
Manhattan: Jane Street between Hudson Street and 8th Avenue
Manhattan: East 90th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
Staten Island: Henderson Avenue between Broadway and Alaska Street
Staten Island: New Street between Cottage Place and Jewett Avenue
The mayor did not mention this during his morning press conference, but the city is also closing down Open Streets from eight locations for a total of 2.77 miles. You can see that list below.
Open Streets Now CLOSING
Bronx: Louis Nine Boulevard between Intervale Avenue and Southern Boulevard
Brooklyn: Prospect Park West between Garfield Place and 3rd Street
Brooklyn: Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn: East 7th Street between Caton Street and Ditmas Avenue
Manhattan: 29th Street between Broadway and Madison Avenue
Queens: Center Boulevard between 57th Avenue and Borden Avenue
Queens: 27th Street between 43rd Avenue and Queens Plaza North
Queens: 85th Street between 25th Avenue and 30th Avenue
This week, Transportation Alternatives released a report reviewing the first three months of the Open Streets initiative and found that the program "lacks vision and ambition," and falls far short of the city's recovery and transportation needs.
"At present, the program remains a disconnected network of public space islands with management challenges," the report states. "While pocket parks and outdoor restaurants are helpful, they will not solve our transportation crisis or revive our economy. These should be finishing touches on top of a connected system to keep New York moving — not New York City’s small answer to a giant problem."
The mayor's office has noted that community groups are encouraged to apply to run some open streets in their neighborhoods—check here for more information.
