NYC Open Streets To Launch Monday Around City Parks: Mayor

NEW YORK CITY — Seven miles of New York streets in and near city parks will be open only to pedestrians and cyclists starting Monday, said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Roughly 4.5 miles within six public parks and 2.7 miles of streets adjacent to seven parks will be barricaded off to cars beginning May 1, as part of de Blasio's plan to open up 100 miles of New York City roadways.

"This will be well protected and well regulated space," said de Blasio. "A family will feel very, very comfortable.”

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Parks with closed streets will be Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan, Callahan-Kelly Park in Brooklyn, Grant Park in The Bronx, Silver Lake Park in Upper Staten Island, Flushing Meadows Park and Forest Park — which the Mayor's office called Forest Hill Park — in Queens.

Some streets near Williamsbridge Oval, Court Square, Carl Schurz Park, Highbridge Park, Prospect Park, Stapleon Waterfront Park and Lt. William Tighe Triangle will also be closed, de Blasio said.

Barricades and signs will alert drivers to the closures and enforcement will come via the Department of Transportation, FDNY, NYPD and local community groups, according to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

City Hall first reached its agreement with City Council — which was pushing a plan to force the city to pedestrianize streets — on Monday.

A bill introduced by the City Council last week during the body's first remote meeting proposed opening up 75 miles of city streets for pedestrian use.

Other elected officials have proposed opening 16 streets on Manhattan's west side and opening up Broadway from Union Square to Central Park.

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