70+ Schools Join NYC’s Open Streets Program This Fall For Outdoor Learning & Recess
As NYC public school students prepare to make their return to classrooms, some may also be returning to emptier streets and outdoor fun as 70+ schools have joined NYC’s Open Streets Program–up from 64 last year and 51 the year before!
The NYC Department of Transportation recently announced that 71 schools will participate in the launch of Open Streets for Schools across the city, a record-breaking expansion of the program since the program first launched during the height of the pandemic. The program was codified into law this past spring.
While the open streets are in effect, they’ll temporarily close to vehicles. The program not only enhances safety for students by helping to facilitate smoother pick-ups and drop-offs, but also creates new space for outdoor recess and learning.
The program is nothing new–NYC has a roughly 100-year-history of closing streets for children to play and to support educational opportunities during what was once called “Playstreets”–but Open Streets for Schools establishes a legal structure to support schools through the Open Streets program for the first time.
71 schools across the five boroughs will participate in the program, most of which are located in underserved communities in the outer boroughs. In total, 12 Bronx schools, 12 Brooklyn schools, 26 Manhattan schools, 20 Queens schools, and one Staten Island school will participate. The full list of participating schools can be found here.
NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated:
The streets have historically been a place for children to play and socialize—and through our Open Streets program, we have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children to safely learn, develop new skills, and make pick-ups and drop-offs much easier for parents and guardians.
This year’s expansion of Open Streets is part of DOT’s recent $30 million commitment to create and sustain high-quality public spaces around the city, specifically under-resourced neighborhoods. In 2025, DOT will offer funding to schools for Open Streets management, operations, and programming for the first time. Applications for 2025 Open Streets will open in October.
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