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On Saturday, July 26th, our beloved Summer Streets bring joy, movement & community back to New York City's streets! From 7am to 3pm, streets in Queens and Staten Island will feature food vendors, public art and, most importantly, NO cars — so New Yorkers can walk, run, bike, scoot, and play. And following Saturdays, streets in the rest of the boroughs will have their time to shine.

This program is nearly two decades old and recently Open Plans has set our sights on improving and expanding the program each year. In 2023, you told us you wanted Summer Streets in every borough, and DOT delivered - plus extended the Manhattan route to Harlem. Last year when we asked what you wanted, you said you wanted more hours — once again DOT answered by extending Summer Streets from 1pm to 3pm.

We're not stopping! Use our letter to thank DOT for listening to New Yorkers year and year - and suggest the next big improvement they should make to Summer Streets for 2026. They're listening! 

We’re throwing a garden party for young professionals next Friday, July 25 at 6pm. Come & join fellow urbanists that are shaping NYC’s streets & public spaces. Expect food, drinks, games, great people & even greater vibes! 

You heard it from us—Low Traffic Neighborhoods can make your local streets quieter, calmer, and safer. Now we want to hear from you! Do you have a neighborhood in mind that might be a good fit for an LTN? We would love to know.

Bus gates and modal filters can transform streets into great places for people to frequent and spend quality time. Watch how different treatments applied to London's Church Street created a walking, biking, and transit paradise, demonstrating that it's possible to put people first.

💪 Two Fridays of wellness await on the E115th Open Street! Join the physical wellness focus on July 18th with activities supporting nutrition, movement, and health practices, then return July 25th for occupational and financial wellness featuring budgeting workshops and career planning. Both run 12-5PM on E. 115th Street (Park-Madison). Free community programming that puts "work, wealth, and wisdom" to work for you.

🛹 Mind, body, and community come together at Gotham Park! Saturday, July 19th offers a perfect progression: Garden Stewardship (10AM-12PM) connecting with nature and neighbors, Brooklyn Banks Yoga (12-1PM) for all-levels movement and reset, then Skate Mind (1-1:30PM) building mental wellness tools. All ages and abilities welcome for this free day of giving back, moving together, and checking in.

🌭 Astoria's beloved cookout series continues with double summer fun! Saturday, July 19th serves up free BBQ, music by Sofa Sounds, and Tremors movie screening by Astoria Horror Club. Saturday, August 23rd brings more free BBQ, performances by Gabbi & Rickens and Lolux, plus Arachnophobia screening. Both events on 31st Ave Open Street (33rd-35th Streets) with music at 6PM, food at 7PM, movies at 8PM. Bring a chair and meet your neighbors!

🎪 Amsterdam Avenue becomes Upper West Side's community living room! Columbus Amsterdam BID hosts Day 3 of their Open Streets this Saturday, July 19th, 3-10PM with continuous activities like giant chess, street lab play kits, and chalk art. Highlights include Mehndi henna workshop, backgammon lessons with Antoinette-Marie Williams, New Jewish Home programming info, UWSkates lessons and slider bar, wine shop opening with live salsa, open mic, clothing swap, and swing dance party. All free on Amsterdam Ave between 106th-110th Streets!

🎨 Morningside Heights celebrates homegrown talent! Saturday, July 19th, 2-6PM brings Morningside Arts Day to Amsterdam Ave & W111th Street with neighbors showcasing musical, visual, and spoken-word work. Featured performers include Emily Keating (2PM), Paula & Alejo with "Music Without Borders" (4:30PM), plus Abe Yoshida, Susan Yoresh, Anne Grossman, Elsa McIntyre Cordoba, Ji-Ming Lin, and Sophia Bracco. W111th Block Association creates the perfect stage for community creativity on their Open Street!

🎉 Victory tastes sweeter with your neighbors! Riders Alliance hosts the Flatbush Bus Bash on Saturday, August 2nd, 2-5PM celebrating DOT's new center-running bus lane proposal for Flatbush Avenue. Meet fellow riders, advocates, and community leaders at Flatbush Central Caribbean Market (2123 Caton Ave) for food, music, and organizing energy. This rider-led win shows what's possible when we come together for better transit!

🌮 The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families (CHCF) brings back the Bronx Block Party for year 4 with Council Member Pierina Sanchez! Saturday, August 9th, 12-4PM on Morris Ave (between Burnside & E. 181st). Free BBQ, games, giveaways, music, and the very first empanada eating contest make this neighborhood celebration unmissable.

Beloved neighborhood restaurants are forced to close their streeteries under restrictive seasonal rules. We're pushing for an equitable, year-round program that works for small businesses citywide—not just wealthy areas. Your donation gets MATCHED dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000! Back this street revolution and show City Hall that public space belongs to everyone.

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

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