New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced a major expansion of “Summer Streets,” bringing the popular program to all five boroughs over five Saturdays between July and August and doubling its size to span car-free 20 miles. The five-borough Summer Streets program builds on Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda” and game-changing $375 million investment in creating vibrant, accessible public spaces across the entire city.
Building on last summer’s two-mile expansion into East Harlem and the restoration of the three-Saturday schedule, this year’s program will be the most ambitious version since Summer Streets launched in 2008 and brings a continued focus on equity. More than 500,000 people walked, ran, cycled, or played on Summer Streets last year.
“Something special happens when we open our streets to New Yorkers — so this year, we’re more than doubling the size of the Summer Streets programming and offering 20 miles of car-free streets across all five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams. “This is a bold new vision for public space in New York City — a bold new way of empowering residents, supporting local businesses, and creating open spaces. Every single New Yorker deserves access to safe, free, open space, and this administration is making it happen.”
“For the last 15 years, our city’s highly successful and much-loved Summer Streets program — a.k.a. the best block party in the city — was only held in Manhattan. With today’s announcement, the Adams administration is bringing the fun to all five boroughs,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Throughout summer 2023, New Yorkers will get to enjoy car-free boulevards in every borough, bringing miles of smiles to all of us who are fortunate enough to spend our summers in the city. Thank you to the Department of Transportation for this incredible program.”
“Thanks to Mayor Adams’ leadership, we are bringing an unprecedented number of Summer Streets to the people,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “We are not only expanding the mileage of the Summer Streets program that New Yorkers have grown to love on Park Avenue, but we are also going to the Grand Concourse, Vernon Boulevard, Eastern Parkway, and Richmond Terrace to transform iconic streets in each borough. We thank the community leaders, advocates, and elected officials who so effectively championed this beloved program’s expansion — and we cannot wait to see you out along 20 miles of Summer Streets this summer!”
