Open Streets advocates from across the city rallied at City Hall Park this week to celebrate the success of 2023’s Open Streets and call on Mayor Adams to fully fund Open Streets in 2024.

Highlights from the 2023 season include the completion of the permanent Berry Street bike boulevard in Brooklyn and 103rd Street in Manhattan, car-free Summer Streets in all five boroughs, the return of the Fifth Avenue holiday Open Street, and the creation of a permanent outdoor dining program. In addition, arts and culture organizations can now host outdoor events in public spaces, thanks to the passage of Council Member Rivera’s bill that made the “Open Culture” program permanent.

Advocates were joined by elected leaders including Council Members Carlina Rivera, Shekar Krishnan, Shahana Hanif, Lincoln Restler, and State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein who support initiatives that make our city safer, more joyous, and more livable.

A fully-funded Open Streets program must include additional resources to maintain Open Street safety, such as staff to manage barricades, and quick implementation of permanent Open Street redesigns, like what exists on 34th Avenue in Queens and Berry Street in Brooklyn.

In addition to full funding for 2024, we are still pushing for City Hall to complete the Underhill Avenue bike boulevard. Our Streets for People petition, which calls on Mayor Adams and other elected officials to support Prospect Heights public space initiatives, now has over 3,000 signatures!

Open Streets advocates from four boroughs: Caldwell Enrichment Programs (Jennings Open Street in the Bronx), North Brooklyn Open Streets Community Coalition, Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, Fort Greene Open Streets (Willoughby Avenue), 31st Avenue Open Street Collective, 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, Alliance for Paseo Park, Loisaida Open Streets (Avenue B), West 21st Open Street, West 103rd Open Street, Sunnyside Shines BID
Advocates: Transportation Alternatives, Open Plans, Moving Cultures Project.