The commissioner of the Department of Transport from New York City (NYC DOT, for its acronym in English), Ydanis Rodriguezannounced today that the agency is launching 71 Open Streets in schools from all over the city, a record number of streets open related to the schools since the program was launched during the pandemic.
“Open “Streets” for the schools improves the safety of childrenhelps to facilitate the collection and return of the parents and tutors and creates new spaces for outdoor play and learning. The number of Open Streets for schools This year’s growth is a direct result of the concerted efforts of the NYC DOT to grow the program through new funds and associations.
“Historically, the streets have been a place for the children play and socialize, and through our program Open Streetswe have created a new framework to return this space to our children school-aged children to learn, develop new skills and make pick-ups and deliveries safe and much easier for them. parents and tutors,” he said Rodriguez. “This record achievement is due to our concerted effort to provide new funds to the program Open Streetsas well as our new partnerships with organizations such as Street Labwhich help connect communities with this great concept and provide enjoyable programming for the children“.
As part of the program, the Full Closure Open Street type allows the schools participants temporarily close the streets to vehicles for student drop-off and pick-up operations, recess, and outdoor learning. New York City, once called “Playstreets,” has approximately 100 years of history closing streets so that the children play and have educational opportunities. Open Streets for Schools follows this tradition and, for the first time, established a legal structure to create streets for the game and support the schools through the program Open Streetswhich became law in spring 2024.
Associations
The growth of Open Streets in the schools It has also been boosted by a new partnership between the NYC DOT and the non-profit organization Street Labwhich works directly with the schools to test and establish new Open Streets. Street Lab works with schools in these neighborhoods to help launch and establish new Open Streetshelping with permits, planning with the school and community, and transforming streets with furniture, activities and people. The efforts of Street Lab have resulted in eight streets open for schoolsand 15 other sites are currently being explored.
Equitable investments
This year’s historic expansion is due to the recent $30 million commitment from the NYC DOT to create and maintain high quality public spaces such as squares and streets open, through the city’s Public Space Equity Program (PSEP). Through the program, the city can provide maintenance, horticultural care, financial grants and more to support Open Streets, squares and other spaces. The funds are specifically assigned to low-resource neighborhoods, where organizations need additional support, to promote equitable placement of squares and streets open throughout the city.
In addition to the PSEP resources, in 2025 the NYC DOT will offer financing for the first time to schools for the management, operations and programming of Open Streets. Applications for 2025 Open Streets will open in October and will include more details on how the schools can apply for and receive financing.
“We are seeing something beautiful in these Open Streets next to the schools: children, parentscaregivers and teachers talking to each other, laughing, running through an obstacle course, even reading a book, all together on the street,” he said. Leslie Davol, Executive Director of Street Lab. “It’s about more than just changing streetsis about giving people the feeling of leaving school and going into a public space that feels safer, healthier and more connected. We have received an avalanche of requests for more schools who want to start an Open Street and our goal is to work with as many as we can. Our approach prioritizes low-income neighborhoods and provides deep support for these Open Streets can thrive and be adopted by the entire neighborhood. Street Lab also involves the neighborhood’s own children in the conception and direction of these Open Streetsand it is absolutely inspiring to see their enthusiasm to improve their streetstheir neighborhood and the city itself. That’s perhaps the most exciting thing that’s happening here.”
