New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner, Ydanis Rodriguez recently 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 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, the mayor said.
“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!”
“The remarkable Summer Streets program shows that when you give New Yorkers an opportunity to come together, have fun, and enjoy their city to the fullest, they will not just jump at the opportunity — they’ll run, bike, scoot, dance, move, and walk to it, too,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “I am so excited for Mayor Adams’ massive expansion of this exciting initiative and look forward to experiencing the community and creativity that Summer Streets brings to all five boroughs.”
Summer Streets this year will operate during its traditional hours between 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM on the following dates and streets:
Saturday, Jul. 29: Queens and Staten Island
Summer Streets in Queens will run along Vernon Boulevard, from 44th Drive to 30th Drive. The program will allow users to enjoy the entire Queens waterfront in Long Island City and Astoria.
Summer Streets on Staten Island will run along Richmond Terrace, from York Avenue to Bard Avenue. The program will allow 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 in the Bronx will follow Grand Concourse, from East Tremont Avenue to Mosholu Parkway, opening a major corridor to people from the west to the north Bronx.
Programming will be updated online periodically. Organizations interested in hosting activities, performances, or other programming should complete DOT’s Summer Streets 2023 partner survey.
Summer Streets sponsors this year include Vita Coco, Cabot Creamery, I LOVE NY, C4 Energy, Forager Project, Super Coffee, Boxed Water, and Core Power Yoga. WABC-TV will serve as Summer Streets official media sponsor.
“Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers have already enjoyed Summer Streets in Manhattan, so there is clearly sufficient demand to expand the program to Queens and throughout the city,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr, whose father hails from Jamaica. “The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the importance of providing access to ample public space in all of our communities, and the expansion of Summer Streets will strongly further our goal of equitably creating more such access in Queens and across the city. Our borough looks forward to what will be a fun and exciting Summer Streets Saturday along the Long Island City/Astoria waterfront on Jul. 29.”
“Summer Streets are coming to Brooklyn, just in time for the long, sunny days and beautiful weather,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m so happy that the city has heard our call to give the streets back to the people to which they belong. Summer Streets are all about celebrating the New Yorkers who call this city home and the culture and arts they bring with them. I’m so grateful to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez, and I can’t wait to see all of Brooklyn show out to enjoy our borough and the city we share.”
“Every year, Summer Streets showcase what improved space for people transportation like can look like in New York City,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I am thrilled to see another expansion of the continuous car-free stretch from the Brooklyn Bridge to Harlem and look forward to seeing my neighbors enjoying the extra space and summer weather.”
“We are excited the Bronx is participating in this year’s Summer Streets program, scheduled to open the Grand Concourse from East Tremont to Mosholu Parkway, to pedestrian traffic,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “With this year marking an expansion of the car-free program to 20 miles across all five boroughs, more residents can now safely enjoy spaces free from pollutants largely caused by traffic congestion. I want to thank Mayor Adams and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for prioritizing equity and inclusion in ensuring all New Yorkers have access to spaces where they can both recreate and appreciate.”
“The Summer Streets program affords communities the chance to come together on our streets and enjoy the city’s diverse public spaces,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, the Jamaican-American chair, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “I commend the administration for emphasizing equity by extending this program throughout the five boroughs, and I look forward to the community’s feedback on its expansion.”
“There is no question that the Open Streets program has been a major success,” said New York City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer. “I commend the administration for continuing and expanding Open Streets in a way that increases access for all New Yorkers.”
“The Long Island City Partnership thanks Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Transportation for bringing the popular Summer Streets program to Long Island City and beyond,” said Laura Rothrock, president, Long Island City Partnership. “Summer Streets is a must-do for walkers, runners, bikers, or anyone who wants to celebrate the summer in New York.”
“Summer Streets is a gift to all New Yorkers, giving residents more space to connect with neighbors and enjoy the outdoors,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We applaud Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for expanding this program to all five boroughs, and we especially look forward to welcoming cyclists and pedestrians traveling down Eastern Parkway to visit our historic Central Library on Grand Army Plaza.”
“We applaud Mayor Adams and the Department of Transportation for significantly expanding Summer Streets and turning this cherished annual event into a five-borough celebration,” said Ken Podziba, president and CEO, Bike New York. “It’s been a priority of Commissioner Rodriguez since he chaired the New York City Council Transportation Committee to open our streets to cyclists and pedestrians and bring quality cultural and educational programming to all New Yorkers.
“Today, we see his vision become a reality,” he added. “This year’s Summer Streets is by far the most equitable and inclusive one ever and sets a new standard for this treasured event that allows New Yorkers to connect car-free with their communities and neighbors like nothing else can.”
