Sunset Park Needs $38K To Set Up Its 'Open Streets' This Season

BROOKLYN, NY — Another swath of Fifth Avenue that became a popular destination for New Yorkers last summer could open again on May 1.

The Sunset Park Business Improvement District has set up a GoFundMe to help reopen three stretches of Fifth Avenue that were part of the city's Open Streets program last year, which lets local organizations close certain streets to cars to help New Yorkers social distance and support local businesses.

The fundraiser is one of several that local groups have launched in order to fund the program this year after it was made permanent. Despite promises by the city to support Open Streets, there is still no government funding provided for running the program.

Should the BID raise enough, they will close the blocks from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sundays starting May 1 with expanded dining, shopping zones and youth activities, according to the organization.

This year, the BID also hopes to expand the number of weekends it offers Open Streets. The goal is a total of 27 weekends, 10 more than the 17 weekends they were open last season.

The Sunset Park sections would join several other stretches of Fifth Avenue in Park Slope that rejoined the Open Streets program in March.

Here are the blocks that would be closed:

• 39th through 42nd street
• 44th through 47th street
• 55th through 59th street

Find the GoFundMe here.