Dear [first-name],

After years of advocacy, change is finally coming to West 72nd Street!

Last week, the NYC DOT announced they will implement long-sought improvements and safety upgrades to the four block stretch from Central Park West to Riverside Drive. DOT’s proposed design for West 72nd Street has the bones of the complete street vision we released in 2024, and while it might not match our full ambition, it will be a significant improvement and have immediate benefits to everyone who uses the street.

Here are some highlights:

🚶🧑‍🦽 Pedestrians are the primary user group on West 72nd St. This redesign will improve pedestrian safety and comfort with things like curb extensions, pedestrian islands, and shorter crossing distances.
🚲 Cyclists of all kinds—from deliveristas to tourists and everyone in between—already rely on West 72nd St as a key crosstown connection between Central Park and Riverside Park. This redesign will dramatically improve safety for cyclists riding across town with a two-way protected bike lane.
🚌 Bus riders on West 72nd St outnumber those travelling in private automobiles yet take up a fraction of the space. This redesign will improve the experience of bus riders with things like in-lane boarding and new boarding platforms.
🌳 Extending park elements—like trees and plantings—along West 72nd St will increase shade, reduce the heat island effect, and make the experience of all users, especially pedestrians, more comfortable.
💵 West 72nd Street is lined with beloved local shops and small restaurants. Pedestrian, bicycle and transit improvements like these are proven to be good for local businesses.
🚚 Improved curb management, like adding loading zones, will allow freight and service vehicles to access the curb, preventing dangerous and illegal double parking and helping goods & services to be delivered more efficiently.

Sounds pretty good to us. But we still need your help to make sure these improvements happen.

One simple thing you can do today is send a letter of support for West 72nd Street improvements to decision makers. This helps demonstrate directly to the people who need to hear it that upgrades like this are sorely needed and broadly popular (despite a few loud voices in opposition).

And our work won’t stop once these improvements are installed. We’ll keep engaging with stakeholders to make sure the changes are working for everyone and continue our advocacy until West 72nd Street is the thriving livable street we know it can be.

Carl Mahaney

Director of StreetopiaUWS

P.S. If you want to help financially support this kind of sustained advocacy, please consider making a donation today.

STREETOPIA

72nd Street redesign

Carl Mahaney, our Director of StreetopiaUWS, was on NBC New York about the West 72nd Street redesign. The street currently prioritizes cars despite most of its users being pedestrians and cyclists.

Watch now

CAREERS

We are hiring a Lower Manhattan Campaign Lead

We are looking for an energetic, mission-aligned person to lead our work in Lower Manhattan, connecting with stakeholders, building relationships & championing real change to the public realm.

Apply now

OPEN STREETS

Car-Free Earth Day

What's better for our earth than a car-free day? DOT is celebrating Earth Day by giving the streets back to people in all five boroughs this Saturday, April 25th. If you're in Queens, we'll be tabling — come say hi and grab some stickers!

Learn more

CURB MANAGEMENT

Help keep delivery workers and streets safe

Share your feedback on proposed locations for the Public E-Bike Charging (PEC) program. This is part of the City's multi-agency effort to reduce battery fires and promote safe e-bike use.

Share feedback

Things to do

🏛️ Grand Army Plaza Public Workshops

NYC DOT is re-envisioning the public space around Grand Army Plaza to create a world-class destination with improved pedestrian connections and easier travel through the Plaza. Join a public workshop to share your input at one of three sessions:

Thu, Apr 23 | 4-6 PM | Tent south of Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch (or Grand Lobby of Brooklyn Public Library if rain)
Sat, Apr 25 | 10 AM-1 PM | Tent south of Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch (or Civic Commons at Brooklyn Public Library if rain, Flatbush Ave entrance)
Wed, Apr 29 | 6-7:30 PM | Virtual workshop on Zoom

🌼 Native Wildflower Seed Giveaway | Fri, Apr 24 | 3-6 PM
State Senator Erik Bottcher and the NYC Biodiversity Task Force are giving away free packets of native wildflower seeds at Verdi Square (Broadway & Amsterdam Ave at W 73rd St) while supplies last! Plant locally grown Field Thistle, Cardinal Flower, and Spotted Beebalm from NYC Parks' Plant Ecology Center to help restore biodiversity and grow a greener, healthier New York.

🚲 Family Bike Day | Sat, Apr 25 | 10 AM-2 PM
Bring the whole family for a day of biking fun with learn-to-ride lessons, arts & crafts, family cargo bike test rides, bike/helmet/gear giveaways, and free safety bike checks. Perfect for cyclists of all ages and skill levels!

🌱 Earth Day Fair at Gotham Park | Sat, Apr 25 | 12-3 PM
Join the Gotham Park Youth Ambassadors and LES Ecology Center to beautify the space before the annual Community Block Party! Get your hands dirty with free eco-friendly activities including composting, plant giveaways, gardening, seed ball making, and more at Gotham Park, 1 Rose Street.

🍽️ The Longest Table Kensington: A Community Meal on Black Maternal Health | Sun, Apr 26 | 3-6 PM
Brown Babies n' Books invites you to gather in Kensington, Brooklyn for a community meal rooted in collective care, courageous conversation, and connection. Come ready to eat, listen, share, and imagine what equitable maternal care could truly look like.

🚸 LTN Webinar: Strategies for Safe, Quiet, and Healthy Neighborhoods | Tue, Apr 28 | 12-1 PM
How much traffic near your home doesn't need to be there? Join us and the Parking Reform Network to learn what a Low Traffic Neighborhood is, how to approach it, and what parking has to do with creating neighborhoods that promote cycling, walking, and socializing over through traffic.

🎊 Pinkster Festival | Sat, May 2 | 12-4 PM
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster at the Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx! Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Kingsbridge Historical Society on the picturesque museum lawn for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences.

🎉 Gotham Park's 4th Annual Community Block Party | Sat, May 2 | 12-4 PM
Celebrate beneath the Brooklyn Bridge at Gotham Park's biggest party yet, now expanding to Big Banks and the newly restored Small Banks! Enjoy live music, art performances, skateboarding, giveaways, local food vendors, and more at this free community celebration.

🪩 Vinyl Nights at Bella Abzug Park | Multiple Dates | 6-9 PM
Dance to the hits that shaped NYC at Vinyl Nights in Hudson Yards! The next event is Thu, May 7 at Bella Abzug Park (Hudson Blvd E between W 34th & 35th St), with more evenings of outdoor dancing throughout the season.

📣 Rally & Testify for Fair Fares | Wed, May 6 | 9 AM

Join Riders Alliance on the steps of City Hall to rally for Fair Fares, then head inside at 10 AM to testify before the NYC Council members who have the power to deliver free and half-price transit to over 2 million New Yorkers!

🎵 Open Stages 2026 | Sat, May 9 | All Day
Park Slope transforms into a neighborhood-wide free music festival with 15+ stages, hundreds of artists, and melodies from around the globe! This celebration of Brooklyn's vibrant music scene is open to everyone and happens rain or shine, while also serving as a fundraiser that supports music education and therapy for over 7,000 New Yorkers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across the five boroughs.

Open Plans
PO Box 1009
New York, NY 10013

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