Pedestrian Plazas

Pedestrian plazas are reclaimed streets transformed into vibrant, social public spaces for all to enjoy. Plazas enhance safety, walkability, and access to public transit while supporting community, commerce, and culture.

NYC DOT partners with community organizations to create plazas and prioritizes neighborhoods that lack open space, amongst other criteria. Plaza partners operate and manage these spaces and are eligible for support through the Public Space Equity Program.

Plazas may include amenities such as chairs, tables, umbrellas, greenery, public art, lighting, and may also offer public programming, markets, and other events for community members to enjoy throughout the year.

A large public plaza in Queens filled with pedestrians sitting at tables under red umbrellas on a sunny day.
Corona Plaza, Queens

On This Page

Activating & Maintaining Plazas

A person leans over a garden bed in a public plaza and plants colorful pansies.

Public Space Equity Program

This program addresses the needs of public spaces in under-resourced neighborhoods where community-based partner organizations need support to maintain the plaza.

Through this program, NYC DOT provides operational and maintenance services, horticultural care, financial subsidies, programming, and technical assistance tools to eligible public space partner organizations citywide.

Learn about the Public Space Equity Program (PSEP)

A five-person band with everyone wearing matching orange shirts and white pants, plays live music in a public plaza while people walking by stop to watch.

Public Realm Programming

Our Public Realm Programming initiative showcases a variety of enriching activities available to help activate public spaces across the city.

This program connects NYC DOT public spaces with local organizations to positively engage communities. All activities are free and open to New Yorkers of all ages and abilities.

Learn about Public Realm Programming opportunities

People stand besides and under a temporary tent setup in a plaza area. People under the tent are selling small personal items like candles and soap.

Short-Term Concession Permits

These permits provide an opportunity for a concessionaire to conduct a revenue generating activity in a plaza for up to 29 days once a year.

Concessionaires are required to provide maintenance services during their hours of operation in lieu of a fee.

Learn about Short-Term Concession Permits

On an autumn day in Brooklyn, people sit on chairs at tables set up on a street closed to traffic with a colorful mural painted on the asphalt.

Temporary Public Art

NYC DOT Art oversees the installation of temporary public artworks on NYC DOT property in partnership with a diverse body of professional artists, arts and community-based organizations, nonprofits, galleries, and business improvement districts. Temporary art such as murals or sculptures may be permitted for up to 11 months.

Learn how to bring temporary public art to plazas

Plaza Locations

NYC DOT has plazas in all five boroughs and sites are open to the public every day for all to enjoy.

Click a plaza name below to open a PDF map of the plaza area.

Community events and programming may be held in plazas by applying for a permit through NYC’s Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO). The PDF maps may be used for SAPO permitting purposes.

Learn how to apply for a permit for Plaza Events List of NYC DOT pedestrian plazas (pdf)

Bronx Plazas

Plaza Name
On Street
From
To
Partner
Bryan Park Plaza East Fordham Road East Kingsbridge Road NYC Parks
Fordham Plaza Park Avenue East 189 Street 3 Avenue NYC DOT
James Baldwin Plaza Goulden Avenue Mosholu Parkway James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center
Lou Gehrig Plaza East 161 Street Walton Avenue Grand Concourse 161st Street Business Improvement District
Morrison Avenue Plaza Morrison Avenue Harrod Place Westchester Avenue Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
Roberto Clemente Plaza 3 Avenue East 148 Street Willis Avenue Third Avenue Business Improvement District
Westchester Square Plaza East Tremont Avenue Westchester Avenue East Tremont Avenue NYC DOT

Brooklyn Plazas

Plaza Name
On Street
From
To
Partner
Albee Square Plaza Dekalb Avenue Bond Street Fulton Mall Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Avenue C Plaza McDonald Avenue Avenue C Church Avenue Naturally Occuring Cultural Districts
Banker's Anchor North 15 Street Nassau Avenue Banker Street North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Brooklyn Plaza Jay Street High Street Manhattan Bridge NYC DOT
Duane Joseph Plaza Parkside Avenue Ocean Avenue Flatbush Avenue Parkside/Empire Merchants Association
Fowler Square Plaza Lafayette Avenue South Eliot Place Fulton Street Fulton Area Business (FAB) Alliance Business Improvement District
Fox Square Plaza Fulton Street Flatbush Avenue Extension Hudson Street Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Frost Street Plaza Frost Street Meeker Avenue NYC DOT
Gates Avenue Plaza Gates Avenue Fulton Street Vanderbilt Avenue Fulton Area Business (FAB) Alliance Business Improvement District
George B. Post Plaza Bedford Avenue Broadway South 6 Street Aesthetic Urban Works
Hillel Plaza Hillel Place Flatbush Avenue Kennilworth Place Flatbush Nostrand Junction Business Improvement District
Humboldt Plaza Humboldt Street Moore Street Varet Street NYC EDC
Jitu Weusi Plaza Putnam Avenue Grand Avenue Fulton Street Fulton Area Business (FAB) Alliance Business Improvement District
Kensington Plaza Beverley Road Church Avenue East 2nd Street Kensington Stewards
Knickerbocker Plaza Myrtle Avenue Knickerbocker Avenue Greene Avenue NYC DOT
Liberty Avenue Plaza 101 Avenue Forbell Street Drew Street NYC DOT
Marcy Avenue Plaza Marcy Avenue MacDonough Street Fulton Street Bed Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District
Myrtle Avenue Plaza Myrtle Avenue Grand Avenue Emerson Place Myrtle Avenue Bkln Partnership (MARP)
New Lots Plaza Ashford Street Livonia Avenue New Lots Avenue NYC DOT
North 10th & Union Avenue Plaza Frost Street North 10 Sreet Union Avenue North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
North 5th Plaza North 5 Street Havemeyer Street Metropolitan Avenue NYC DOT
Old Fulton Plaza Old Fulton Street Water Street Front Street DUMBO Business Improvement District
Osborn Street Plaza Osborn Street Belmont Avenue Brownsville Community Justice Center
Pearl Street Plaza Pearl Street Water Street Anchorage Place DUMBO Business Improvement District
Underhill Plaza Underhill Avenue Atlantic Avenue Pacific Street Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council
Willoughby Plaza Willoughby Street Adams Street Pearl Street Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Zion Triangle Plaza Pitkin Avenue Legion Street East New York Avenue NYC Parks/Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District

Manhattan Plazas

Plaza Name
On Street
From
To
Partner
125th Street Plaza Park Avenue 124 Street 125 Street Uptown Grand Central
185th Street Plaza 185 Street Audubon Avenue Amsterdam Avenue Yeshiva University
25th Street Plaza 25 Street 3 Avenue Lexington Avenue Baruch College
33rd Street Plaza West 33 Street 7 Avenue 8 Avenue Vornado/34th Street Partnership
Astor Place Plaza Astor Place 4 Avenue Cooper Square Village Alliance
Bogardus Plaza Hudson Street Chambers Street Reade Street Friends of Bogardus Plaza
Coenties Slip Plaza Coenties Slip Water Streeet Pearl Street Alliance for Downtown New York
Columbus Circle Plaza Broadway 57 Street 59th Street NYC Parks/Central Park Conservancy
Cooper Square Plaza Bowery Cooper Square Grace Church School
Delancey Plaza Delancey Street Norfolk Street Clinton Street Lower East Side Business Improvement District
Division Street Plaza Division Street Canal Street Ludlow Street Lower East Side Business Improvement District
Doyers Street Plaza Doyers Street Pell Street Bowery Chinatown Partnership
Flatiron Plaza Broadway 21 Street 29 Street Flatiron NoMad Partnership
Forsyth Plaza Forsyth Street Canal Street Division Street Asian Americans for Equality
Garment District Plaza Broadway 36 Street 41 Street Garment District Alliance
Gansevoort Plaza 9 Avenue Gansevoort Street West 15 Street Meatpacking Improvement District
Haven Plaza Haven Avenue Fort Washington Avenue 169 Street Columbia University Medical Center
Herald & Greeley Square Plaza Broadway 33 Street 35 Street 34th Street Partnership
James Cagney Plaza East 91 Street 2 Avenue 3 Avenue Friends of James Cagney Plaza
Johnny Hartman Plaza Hamilton Place 143 Street Amsterdam Avenue The Brotherhood Sister Sol
Louise Nevelson Plaza William Street Liberty Street Maiden Lane Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Montefiore Plaza Hamilton Place Broadway 138 Street NYC Parks
Municipal Plaza Centre Street Worth Street NYC DOT
Pershing Square Plaza Park Avenue East 41 Street East 42 Street Grand Central Partnership (GCP)
Plaza de Las Americas 175 Street Broadway Wadsworth Avenue Community League of the Heights, Inc. (CLOTH)
Post Avenue Plaza Post Avenue 207 Street 10 Avenue Inwood Merchants Association
Quisqueya Plaza Dyckman Street Broadway Seaman Avenue Dyckman Gardens
Ruth Wittenberg Plaza 6 Avenue Greenwich Avenue Christopher Street Village Alliance BID
Times Square Plaza Broadway 41 Street 53 Street Times Square Alliance
Union Square Plaza
  • Broadway
  • Broadway
  • East 17 Street
  • Union Square West
  • Union Square West
  • East 14 Street
  • University Place
  • East 18 Street
  • East 17 Street
  • Broadway
  • East 16 Street
  • East 14 Street
  • University Place
  • East 13 Street
  • East 19 Street
  • East 18 Street
  • Park Avenue South
  • East 17 Street
  • East 15 Street
  • Broadway
  • East 14 Street
 NYC Parks/Union Square Partnership
Vanderbilt Plaza Vanderbilt Avenue 42 Street 43 Street SL Green
Worth Square Plaza Broadway 23 Street 25 Street NYC Parks/Madison Square Park Conservancy

Queens Plazas

Plaza Name
On Street
From
To
Partner
12th Street Plaza 12 Street 43 Road 44 Avenue VOREA Group
34th Avenue Plaza
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 34 Avenue
  • 69 Street
  • 73 Street
  • 77 Street
  • 78 Street
  • 79 Street
  • 82 Street
  • 83 Street
  • 89 Street
  • 93 Street
  • 70 Street
  • 74 Street
  • 78 Street
  • 79 Street
  • 80 Street
  • 83 Street
  • 84 Street
  • 90 Street
  • 94 Street
 34th Avenue Open Street Coalition
46th Avenue Plaza 46 Avenue Jackson Avenue MoMA PS1
78th Street Plaza 78 Street 34 Avenue Northern Boulevard NYC Parks
Beach 20th Street Plaza Beach 20 Street Beach 21 Street Mott Avenue Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corp
Beach 21st Street Plaza Beach 21 Street Mott Avenue Rockaway East Merchants Association
Bliss Plaza Queens Boulevard 46 Street Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District
Corona Plaza Roosevelt Avenue National Street 104 Street NYC DOT
Diversity Plaza 37 Road 73 Street 74 Street NYC DOT
Douglaston Station Plaza 235 Street 41 Avenue Douglaston Local Development Corporation
Herman Hochberg Plaza 71 Avenue Stephen Street Myrtle Avenue Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District
Lippman Plaza Lippman Plaza Roosevelt Avenue 39 Avenue Flushing Business Improvement District
Lowery Plaza Queens Boulevard 40 Street Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District
Murdock Plaza Murdock Avenue 180 Street Dead End Addisleigh Park Civic Association
Myrtle/Cooper Plaza 70 Street Myrtle Avenue Cooper Avenue Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District Queens
Venditti Square Plaza Woodbine Street Myrtle Avenue St. Nicholas Avenue Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District Queens
Wyckoff Plaza Wyckoff Avenue Myrtle Avenue Gates Avenue NYC DOT

Staten Island Plazas

Plaza Name
On Street
From
To
Partner
Van Name/Van Pelt Plaza Richmond Terrace Van Name Avenue Van Pelt Avenue NYC Parks

How to Apply to Create a New Plaza

Eligible organizations may propose new plaza sites for their neighborhoods through a competitive application process. NYC DOT prioritizes sites that are in neighborhoods that lack open space, and partners with community groups that commit to operate, maintain, and manage these spaces so they are vibrant pedestrian plazas.

The 2024 application is now closed. The 2025 application will open on April 1, 2025.

Eligibility

This program is open to all organizations in any area of the city.

Applicants must be:

  • Organizations operating in New York City
  • Incorporated in New York State and compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements
  • Located near or have a mission that serves or relates to the geographical target area of the proposed plaza

Support

Applicants must demonstrate local support for the proposed plaza by providing at least eight letters of support from community stakeholders, including but not limited to adjacent properties/businesses, nearby institutions (such as churches or schools), elected officials, other not-for-profit groups, neighborhood or block associations, and neighborhood residents.

Application Review & Evaluation

Applications are reviewed and evaluated according to the City's strategic goals as presented in PlaNYC, the NYC DOT Streets Plan, and site-specific criteria, including:

  • Open space: whether or not the neighborhood has an insufficient amount of open space.
  • Income eligibility: applicants receive additional points for proposals located in neighborhoods that qualify as low- or moderate-income as designated by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development as eligible for Community Development Block Grants.
  • Community initiative: the extent to which the applicant develops and executes a community outreach plan, builds consensus for the site, and solidifies local stakeholder support.
  • Site context: the proposed site's appropriateness to the adjacent land uses, population density, proximity to transit, safety, and other nearby open space.
  • Organizational and maintenance capacity: the extent to which the applicant is willing and able to program activities, maintain, operate and manage the plaza once it is built.

How the City Builds New Plazas

Pedestrian plazas are designed to reflect the character and needs of its neighborhood. Plazas are built in a multiple step process. The first installation of the plaza is in temporary materials, created as part of a street redesign project. Community Boards are notified during this process.

The second and final installation phase of a plaza is in permanent materials. This process takes many years and is funded through the capital program. NYC DDC often leads the implementation of a permanent plaza.

  • A quiet street next to a public space triangle in Brooklyn.
    Before plaza conditions on South Elliot Place, Brooklyn
  • A street closed to vehicles painted tan has tables, umbrellas, chairs, and large planters with greenery. People walk along the plaza area.
    Interim materials create Fowler Square Plaza, Brooklyn
A large concrete triangle busy with people and greenery established as a public plaza in Brooklyn.
Permanent materials establish Fowler Square Plaza, Brooklyn

Plaza Rules

When using pedestrian plazas, you must comply with all plaza rules posted in Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Rules of the City of New York.

Review Pedestrian Plaza rules on American Legal Publishing

Displaying a Sign in a Plaza

If you would like to display a sign in a pedestrian plaza that does not comply with the official rules (e.g., a sign larger than 3 feet x 2 feet and 6 square feet), send an email including the following information to plazas@dot.nyc.gov at least seven days before you would like to display the sign.

  1. Subject line should read, “Sign Request”
  2. The location where the sign will be displayed (e.g., the pedestrian plaza, specifying the approximate portion(s) of the plaza);
  3. The dimensions of the sign;
  4. The material the sign will be made of;
  5. The manner in which the sign will be displayed;
  6. The duration the sign will be displayed;
  7. Contact information where the response can be sent.

NYC DOT will evaluate your request and will let you know if it can be accommodated or if it needs to be modified to ensure safety and pedestrian flow in the plaza.

Times Square Plaza Adjacent Sidewalk Diagram

View an illustrative diagram of Times Square Pedestrian Plaza’s adjacent sidewalk