NYC To Transform Almost 20 Streets Into Car-Free, Pedestrian-Safe Zones

By Mikelle Leow, 15 Dec 2021

Image via Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

In time, heavy traffic won’t be a thing in these NYC streets. That’s because they’ll be completely pedestrian-friendly as part of a massive overhaul proposed by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

Renderings shared for its Public Realm Action Plan, via Time Out, envision Downtown Brooklyn with communal zones, shared streets, and greenery in the stead of vehicle-ridden areas—overall, a more welcoming and peaceful neighborhood for the people it is meant to serve.

Brooklyn has reportedly seen the largest boom in population across the five boroughs. As such, a people-first, environmental-friendly revamp has been overdue.

“This plan positions Downtown Brooklyn as a model for converting outdated infrastructure that no longer serves its constituents, and we are moving forward with our partners at the City to make our vision a reality,” details Regina Myer, president of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

Covering almost 20 streets, the initiative imagines wider sidewalks and cut less shared streets, as well as green walls and rain gardens to cool down the neighborhood while introducing fresh air. 1,000 new trees will also be grown in the ground and in planters.

In addition, Columbus Park, Albee Square + Fleet Street, and University Place could be transformed into public gathering spaces, as outlined by Time Out, and Adams Street might serve as a multi-modal boulevard to form a safer and more connected bicycle network to and from Manhattan.

View some illustrations below and read more about the plan here.