NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the launch of the 2023 Open Streets program on Saturday, April 22, coinciding the program’s 2023 launch with DOT’s Car-Free Earth Day. As previously reported, the program, according to DOT officials, transforms streets into public spaces open to all, allowing for a range of activities that promote economic development, supporting schools, and providing new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community. However, a review of the City’s list of designated open street locations finds very few in the northwest Bronx.

 

DOT officials said this year the program will initially feature nearly 160 open street locations stretching almost 300 blocks citywide, including more than 25 new locations across the five boroughs. Rodriguez visited all five boroughs on Saturday to highlight this year’s launch of the program, including a visit to Willis Avenue between East 147th Street and East 148th Street in the South Bronx, where he was joined by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Third Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), among others.

 

“Spring has sprung and I invite New Yorkers to celebrate the warm weather on our collective front yard: our streets,” Rodriguez said. “We’re thrilled to continue building on the success of the Open Streets program, both with the launch of new sites across the City and through the permanent upgrades to existing locations.” The commissioner added, “As we celebrate Earth Week, Open Streets is a shining example of how we can make our streets more vibrant and welcoming by supporting safe and sustainable transportation options.”

 

The city’s Open Streets program is the largest of its kind in the nation, according to DOT officials who said the department provides funding to local operating partners, as well as maintenance support, to 34 Open Street locations, via a partnership with the Horticultural Society of New York. DOT officials said the department plans to announce additional open streets locations later this year as the agency continues to process applications with future launch dates planned for on or after July 1.

 

Third Avenue BID officials later tweeted of the launch, “Loving the kick off of our 2023 Open Streets – Willis Ave season! Happy Earth Day! Grateful to welcome @NYCMayor, @NYC_DOT & share the program we designed at the start of the pandemic as a matter of equity to support community & artists.”

This year’s Open Streets features new locations like Soundview in The Bronx. Adams joined the commissioner in reclaiming the City’s streets and was captured Salsa dancing [in Washington Heights, we believe] at one point during the day before heading to Willis Avenue for Earth Day, and later to Monroe College in Fordham Manor for a job fair promoting City vacancies [story to follow].

 

In addition to launching new Open Street locations this year, DOT officials said the department is also building on the success of existing locations with permanent redesigns to better prioritize pedestrians and cyclists. They said new designs can help locations evolve beyond the need for metal barriers. The Willis Avenue location in the South Bronx is one such open street location which will undergo capital upgrades in future years, they said.

 

Meanwhile, DOT officials said the full list of 2023 Open Streets is available on DOT’s website. They said new Open Street applications in The Bronx for 2023 included Evelyn Place (not yet active) in University Heights, Beaumont Avenue in Belmont, Beck Street (not yet active), south of Longwood, East 148th Street in Mott Haven, Harrod Place in Soundview, and Home Street, northwest of Longwood.

 

 

State Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D. 31), who represents parts of the northwest Bronx and northern Manhattan, “I am a bike rider, so I am incredibly thankful for the Open Streets initiative, which makes pedestrians and cyclists the top priority, allowing for free public art displays, performances, and other activities for our communities.”

 

He added in part, “This is a great way for neighbors to come together and take back their streets from cars while also taking part in educational and cultural activities in an environment that is protected from vehicle traffic.”

 

Juan Restrepo, director of organizing for Transportation Alternatives, a group which promotes alternate modes of transportation other that motorized vehicles, said, “Open Streets are safe, popular, and lively places for New Yorkers to gather. When we reclaim spaces from cars and open them to people, great things happen.”

 

Restrepo continued, “To ensure the program continues to succeed, they need to be permanent fixtures of the streetscape,” said “We’re glad to see new locations receive capital upgrades from the city and look forward to working with DOT to expand permanent Open Streets equitably across our city, especially in the outer-boroughs.”

It's #EarthDay and we're not just dancing in the streets, we're dancing in the OPEN streets.https://t.co/hi7K9mItgX pic.twitter.com/TorlU6EjUC

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 22, 2023

 

Meanwhile, Eric McClure, executive director of StreetsPAC, a group which advocates for more street access, said, “We’re excited to see more than two dozen new Open Streets locations coming online for 2023, bringing the many benefits of car-free and car-light spaces to more corners of the city. And we’re thrilled to see that some of the city’s most popular and successful Open Streets will be in line for design upgrades this spring and summer.”

 

McClure added, “New Yorkers have embraced the opportunity offered by these new village squares, and we’re grateful to the Department of Transportation for their efforts to continually hone and improve the Open Streets program.”

 

Find free events on Open Streets and Plazas on DOT’s public space programming page.