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The weather is just starting to turn, but New Yorkers have summer on the brain. More than 20 elected officials, in all five boroughs, have now written letters to DOT in support of Summer Streets, the long-running program that opens streets to people for four Saturdays in August. Their letters echo what Open Plans has been urging for years—more weekends, more hours, more streets for people.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso's letter points out that Brooklyn only gets one day of Summer Streets, "while Manhattan has been delegated three weekends. Our borough is full of additional streets that are prime for people to enjoy on a summer’s day.” Same goes for Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island!

Residents across the city are also weighing in through our Summer Streets survey, and they're asking for longer routes, cross-borough routes, longer hours, more restrooms, and more vendors.

Here are three ways to make your voice heard and help make Summer Streets bigger and better:

• Complete our short survey about what you want for future Summer Streets. 
• Submit a proposal for your art to be installed along a Summer Streets route this year.
• Submit a proposal to create a Summer Streets program in your borough: DOT is looking for performers, fitness professionals, nonprofits, artists and community-based organizations.

*SPECIAL OFFER*

We’re offering young professionals a discounted $100 ticket to May 1st's Public Space Awards for supporting Open Plans! When you donate $10 or more per month, you’ll unlock access to this exclusive ticket tier—allowing you to celebrate transformations like IS528's and Gotham Park's while directly contributing to the future of New York City’s public spaces.

Donate monthly & you’ll receive your exclusive discounted invitation to May 1st's Awards, this year held at Brooklyn Winery!

NYC's seasonal outdoor dining program starts today, but a problematic rollout & restrictive program have caused curbside cafes to plummet from up to 8,000 at its peak to under 600. What went wrong and how to fix it? We have the answers.

Get yourself ready for the City Council's Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing on Intro 1138 that would mandate daylighting. We'll review testimony resources & answer questions about the bill & how to testify.

What impact will autonomous vehicles have on the future of our cities? Join us on Wednesday April 9, 6-7:30 PM at Cookfox Studio with author, architect, urbanist, researcher, and educator Evan Shieh.

On April 17th, we’ll use social media to celebrate daylighting’s proven safety and livability benefits and tell decision makers that NYers want them to bring these changes to our streets. We will be sending a Day of Action Kit for you to use the day of!

🌞 Help us learn about your experience with Summer Streets! Fill out this survey and share with us how you like them, and how we could do to make them better!

🖋️ StreetsblogUSA is seeking a summer journalism intern! Support transportation advocacy coverage remotely (15 hrs/week, $16.50/hr) from June-August. Opportunity for bylines, research, and media production. Students passionate about sustainable transportation encouraged to apply. Email your resume to kea@streetsblog.org.

🚲 Join Bergen Bike Bus for April's first ride on Wednesday, April 2nd! Layer up for sunny but chilly conditions. Tracker goes live at 7:15 AM. Roll together with your neighbors on this morning bike commute!

🗣️ Hear NYC's mayoral candidates discuss crucial issues at two forums: Environmental justice with WE ACT on Saturday, April 5, 10AM-12PM at Polo Grounds, then parks and open space with NY4P and the Playfair Coalition on Tuesday, April 8, 5:30-7:30PM at NY Law School. RSVP for both events.

🍃 WE ACT's Earth Day 5K returns Saturday, April 19th at 8:00 AM! Run or walk for a healthier community at Randall's Island Park. Join as an individual or team, all abilities welcome.

🧤 Clean Flushing Bay's shoreline on Saturday, April 19, 10AM-12PM! Join Guardians of Flushing Bay for an Earth Day cleanup at World's Fair Marina. Tools provided—just bring water, sun protection, and closed-toe shoes.

🎷 Mark your calendars for the inaugural SEQ Jazz & Heritage Bike Tour on Sunday, May 17! Southeast Queens Center for History & Culture welcomes all riders, whether on traditional bikes or motorized scooters. Want to get involved? Applications are open for potential collaborators and sponsors.

✍️ East Midtown needs your signature! Support the petition for an Open Street on East 36th alongside St. Vartan Park, continuing a tradition of safe play space dating back to 1939. Help local families and neighbors secure outdoor recreation space before the adjacent playground closes for reconstruction this year.

Open Plans |  377 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10013-3907

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