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It’s Back to School time (well, almost – you still have the rest of the week to prepare!). Public school in New York City starts on Thursday, September 4th, and it got us reminiscing and thinking about our hopes for the school year. 

So, we took this opportunity to ask some friends of the Open Plans community to share their hopes for the 2025/2026 school year. 

Here’s what we heard: 

Nicole Burgio Riccio, superstar of the PS 129 open street and honorary mayor of College Point says: “Our hope for the 2025/2026 school year is to create a safe environment during arrival and dismissal. In addition, we are looking forward to hosting after school block parties and inviting community helpers, like sanitation to allow children to explore and learn. The daily use of our street will be used to expand our arts, physical education and early childhood movement programs.”

Maria Bermudez, teacher at City-As and champion of our Project for Public Spaces grant says: “I’m looking forward to building on the momentum from last year, where our classes and community events—like the block party and student showcases—brought people together in meaningful ways. Next year, I’m excited to create even more opportunities for students to share their learning with families, staff, and peers through collaborative projects, performances, and celebrations that strengthen our school community."

Noemi Brito, parent teacher coordinator at IS528 (who received a Public Space Award from Open Plans this spring for most inspiring school street!) shares: “As we open the doors to the 2025–2026 school year, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes for a year filled with blessings, encouragement, and growth. A new school year is not only a fresh start, but also a reminder that every student has the potential to succeed when surrounded by care, guidance, and opportunity. I am truly excited for the year ahead and grateful to partner with you in making it a positive and rewarding journey for all.”

Chris Heyward, parent at PS 118 who orchestrated a volunteer ecosystem to keep the open street running, after Open Plans helped them apply says: "One of my favorite memories from the PS 118 School Street is watching students march up and down the street in costume for the annual Halloween parade, with parents lining both sides of the street cheering them on."

At Open Plans, here are our TOP THREE hopes for the school year:

1. We can’t wait to see how our Project for Public Spaces grant to improve the school street on Clarkson Street plays out – we have visions of play and joy and hopscotch! We’re also excited to see how permanent infrastructure helps to make their school street safer.
2. What if students felt safe and supported on their walk and bike to school? I know, UTOPIA! We have high hopes that our work on daylighting (which is gaining real momentum with support from elected officials, community boards, and civic groups across the city) and supporting Bike Buses all over the city will increase the number of students getting to school actively. Students who get to school actively experience enhanced mental and physical health and also come to school with greater focus and an eagerness to learn. That’s a win win win!
3. So far, we’ve helped 30 schools and community based organizations apply for school streets. This year, we have plans to reach even more! If you are a school administrator, a teacher, or an active parent, please be in touch to learn more about getting a school street.

To all of you students, teachers, and administrators, we wish you a school year filled with discovery, growth, friendship, and joy! Should you need help with a school street application, please be in touch—we can walk you through the process and share tips and suggestions. Reach out to Sabina at sabina@openplans.org, or simply reply to this newsletter.

The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived: our full list of restaurants participating in Curbside Restaurant Week is officially out! From September 5-12, you can enjoy exclusive discounts and specials at 30+ establishments across all five boroughs – everything from free aperol spritzes in Park Slope to complimentary limoncello in Carroll Gardens.

We're also teaming up with Untapped New York for a Curbside Bar Crawl through Park Slope on September 11th. Join our Director of Advocacy, Jackson Chabot, as he guides you through three participating restaurants, where you'll sample bites, meet the people behind the plates, and celebrate how these establishments have turned asphalt into inviting community spaces. So come hungry, leave happy, and help us show the City that NYC's best outdoor dining days are still ahead of us!

Cramming a casino into Times Square isn’t just a bad land use decision; it’s a dangerous one. It means more cars, more emissions, more pedestrian conflicts, & more chaos in a district already bursting at the seams.

We sat down with District 33 Council Member Lincoln Restler at Rucola in Brooklyn to discuss NYC's declining outdoor dining program, covering why year-round street dining is essential for restaurants, his favorite Brooklyn Open Streets and more!

Stockholm’s pedestrian-first approach is connecting retail, culture, and transit. In this Streetfilm, see how congestion pricing and walkable networks have made downtown safer, quieter, and more accessible, fueling businesses and vibrant public life.

🎰 Have your say on proposed Manhattan casinos at upcoming Community Advisory Committee hearings! The Avenir's second hearing happens September 8th, 12-7PM at Javits Center, followed by Caesars Palace Times Square on September 11th, 2-8PM at Broadhurst Theatre. These meetings are a key part of the state's casino siting process, giving residents like you an official channel to comment on neighborhood developments.

🎒 It’s back to school season across the city and community gardens, plazas, and centers are transformed into resource hubs when families need support most. Watch out for these events happening at a public space near you:

• Wednesday, August 27: Grand Street Settlement (11am-4pm) - K-12 students get backpacks, supplies, and haircuts at The Rose Center (80 Pitt Street, Lower East Side)
• Thursday, August 28: WHEDco Back to School Bash (11am-3pm) - Music, games, face painting at Bronx Music Hall (438 East 163rd Street)
• Thursday, August 28: Davidson Community Center (12-6pm) - Health screenings and supplies at Captain Roscoe Brown Plaza (across from Bronx Community College)
• Friday, August 29: NYRP Backpack Bonanza at Bedstuy Community Garden (5-9pm) - Live music and supplies with Council Member Chi Ossé
• Saturday, August 30: NYRP Backpack Bonanza at Target Bronx Garden (12-2pm) - Supply giveaway plus cooking demo by Chef Brandy Cochrane
• Saturday, August 30: NYRP Backpack Bonanza at Creston Ave Playground (3-5pm) - Supplies and cooking demonstration with garden group members
• Sunday, August 31: 5th Annual Back to School Growth Festival (11am) - 1,000+ backpacks, sneakers, and supplies at Hollis Playground plus inaugural Try Love Classic basketball tournament
• Sunday, August 31: NYRP Backpack Bonanza at Eastchester Rd Garden (3-5pm) - Supply giveaway with Council Member Kevin Riley
• Wednesday, September 3: Theory 9 Block Party (2pm) - Annual celebration at Fort #4 Playground (2865 Webb Ave, Bronx) with supplies, haircuts, music, and raffles

🥗 Connect with fellow urban enthusiasts over food and nature on Thursday, September 4th, 5:30-7PM at the Bronx River House! This Public Space Potluck by the Design Trust for Public Space celebrates the Bronx River's incredible offerings – from peaceful greenway strolls to kayaking adventures. Bring a dish to share and discover why this 24-mile waterway deserves a spot on every New Yorker's must-visit list.

🎺 Join Arts & Democracy for a free concert featuring cross-cultural musical fusion on Thursday, September 4th, 7PM at Avenue C Plaza! Sonny Singh's trumpet meets Mafer Power Trio's Venezuelan-jazz blend in a performance that showcases how public plazas become venues for innovative artists.

🌳 Help count every tree in NYC's parks during Trees Count 2025! This decadal census happens only every 10 years, and volunteers get training, materials, and the chance to measure and identify park trees citywide. Upcoming events include Starlight Park (Sept 4th), Richman Park (Sept 6th), and Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park (Sept 7th). No experience needed – just bring your tree-hugging enthusiasm and help build the next generation of urban forest stewards!

🍽️ Astoria gets its turn at The Longest Table Sunday, September 7th, 4-7PM on 31st Avenue Open Street! This community-building event has been connecting neighbors across NYC, and now it's coming to Queens. The Open Street Collective provides tables and chairs - you bring food and friends for a communal meal that shows what streets become when we prioritize people. Watch for registration August 24th!

👻 Apply to join Trick-or-Streets 2025, NYC DOT's fourth annual Halloween street festival running October 17-31! DOT is seeking Open Streets partners, plaza operators, and community groups to host spooky events that expand pedestrian space during Halloween's chaos. Submit your expression of interest by August 29th at 5PM.

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New York, NY 10013

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