Park Avenue To Go Car-Free Again As 'Summer Streets' Returns

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The popular annual festival that pedestrianizes a huge swath of Park Avenue is set to return this year after a pandemic hiatus, the city announced last week.

Summer Streets will be held on two Saturdays, Aug. 7 and 14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Park Avenue, connecting to Lafayette and Centre streets in Lower Manhattan and terminating at the Brooklyn Bridge, the Department of Transportation said.

The precise route hasn't yet been announced, but in past years it has run as far north as 72nd Street, where it connects to the park at the Fifth Avenue entrance.

The city promised "a great roster of fun and free activities" along the seven-mile thoroughfare, including public art installations, performances and activities at five rest stops.

#SummerStreets is coming back 8/7 and 8/14, 7AM-1PM from Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park. Join us to on seven miles of car free streets in August! Stay tuned for more details. pic.twitter.com/vSXyHFTho5
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) July 2, 2021

Past years' festivals have featured zip lines, wheelchair basketball games, dog parks, fitness classes and dumpster pools — and of course, ample space for pedestrians and cyclists to move about without interference from vehicles.

First held in 2008, Summer Streets has grown in the ensuing years, with nearly 300,000 people visiting the open streets in 2019, according to DOT. It was not held last year to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, but is coming back "following the recent ban lifts and the undeniable success of the Open Streets and Open Restaurants program," the city said.

New Yorkers largely celebrated the announcement of Summer Streets' return, though some questioned the lack of afternoon hours and the fact that its route had not been expanded since its inception.

The city promised more details in the coming weeks, available at nyc.gov/summerstreets.