On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an additional 13 miles of New York City streets were set to open to pedestrians through the Open Streets program, reports Brooklyn Paper.
The program is designed to provide more outside space to New Yorkers during the summer, as the city reopens in phases after coronavirus restrictions.
The initiative was launched on May 1, to give New Yorkers a reprieve from months in isolation. As part of the program's extension, the city will open an additional five miles of Brooklyn roads. The city is also opening temporary bike lanes, however, none are planned for the borough.
"This is going to be great for people looking just for a break this summer, with all the things going on, a place to exercise, a place for the kids to run around," de Blasio said at a press briefing on June 24.
The streets assigned to open in Brooklyn will be in East New York, Brownsville, Eastern Crown Heights and Sunset Park, all communities of color that have seen a disproportionate number of deaths as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The open streets are managed by local police precincts, and some are overseen by local businesses and service groups. You can view the full list of open streets here.
