The Community Deserves Park Slope
Play Street
We are neighbors who want 4th St. at 5th Ave., a lollipop-shaped cul de sac to be a beautiful and safe Pedestrian Plaza that thousands of neighbors can enjoy. Once a designated NYC Play Street and now part of the NYC Open Streets program, this public space is the perfect spot for Park Slope's first and only Pedestrian Plaza. We knew before COVID that removing cars from the area would benefit the community and expand the footprint of the much loved park, but the pandemic magnified the issues. We went outside to address public health, focusing on outdoor learning and outdoor dining. More of us appreciate our parks and open spaces for the critical infrastructure they are now. Thanks to the advocacy of Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID and neighbors, NYC DOT designated this block as an official Open Street during COVID. Together, we are building on those efforts. Join us to make Park Slope Play Street a reality. It could be done today.
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FAQ
What do you want?
At minimum, Park Slope deserves a car-free area that expands the footprint of the beloved park complex and bridges a divide between a huge middle school + community from the park.  Ideally, a beautiful car-free Pedestrian Plaza that helps neighbors grow community, business thrive, students learn and people relax.  With some paint, protective barriers, planters and street furniture, we could have this tomorrow.
There's a park next door. Why pedestrianize 4th Street?
Every corner of the park is overutlized and that's even when the 1400+ students of MS 51 are not around.  At drop off, during their outside lunch period, pickup and afterschool, you'll see hundreds of students looking for a place to sit and eat lunch or run around in the same playground that is utilized by daycares at the same.  Also, expanding the footprint of the park and removing cars makes the park safer and more enjoyable for al
What about parking?
The health and wellbeing of 1400+ students and the larger community is more important than parking for a few cars. As our new Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said recently, our public streets are better utilized for the public than for private vehicles.
Why pedestrianize now?
Before the pandemic, peope said it wasn't the right time. Â During the pandemic (when we all learned how much safer it was to be outside and appreciated our open spaces more than ever), people continued to say it wasn't the right time. Â The right time to create Park Slope Play Street, a car-free pedestrian plaza is now.