By Forum Staff
City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez recently announced the beginning of Summer Streets last Saturday in Queens, with the biggest expansion in the program’s 15-year history. The popular program, which opens select streets for people to play, walk, and bike, will expand to all five boroughs for the first time and will now extend to 125th Street in Manhattan. The expanded Summer Streets will span five Saturdays between July and August and is now doubled in size to feature 20 miles of car-free streets. Free performances and other activities will be available at stops along each route.
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.
Photo Courtesy of Summer Streets
Summer Streets participants note the Queens route on Saturday in Astoria.
Saturday, July 29: Queens and Staten Island
Summer Streets in Queens ran along Vernon Boulevard, from 44th Drive to 30th Drive. The program allowed users to enjoy the entire Queens waterfront in Long Island City and Astoria.
Summer Streets on Staten Island ran along Richmond Terrace, from York Avenue to Bard Avenue. The program allowed users to access the entire waterfront roadway along Staten Island’s North Shore thoroughfare.
Saturday, Aug. 5, 12, and 19: Manhattan
Summer Streets in Manhattan will extend the traditional route from Brooklyn Bridge all the way into Harlem, traveling along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue up to 109th Street; on Central Park North from Fifth Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard; and finally along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 110th Street to 125th Street.
Saturday, Aug. 26: Brooklyn and the Bronx
Summer Streets in Brooklyn will travel along Eastern Parkway, from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Avenue, connecting Prospect Heights and Brownsville along the same route as the Caribbean Day Parade — one of the city’s most popular annual events.
“Summer Streets [kicked] off this weekend in Queens and Staten Island and will extend to all five boroughs for the first time,” Rodriguez said. “The great programming and events enjoyed for years along Park Avenue will now be available along Grand Concourse, Vernon Boulevard, Eastern Parkway, and Richmond Terrace, making Summer Streets a true citywide experience. We thank our great sponsors and partners and hope every New Yorkers can make it out to enjoy this celebration of the season!”
