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Summer Streets Kicks Off First Of Three Car-Free Saturdays Tomorrow
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 3, 2018
Modified Aug 3, 2018
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Scott Lynch / Gothamist
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 3, 2018
Modified Aug 3, 2018
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It's time for the city to shut down nearly 7 miles of Manhattan streets to car traffic and give it to over pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers, skaters, puppers, and more—Summer Streets starts tomorrow!
This is the 11th annual Summer Streets, which clears a continuous car-free route from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge by way of Park Avenue, Lafayette Street and Centre Street. This year's dates are August 4th, 11th, and 18th, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are also "rest stops" along the way, with attractions like a 165'-long, 30’-high zip line at Foley Square, a bouldering wall and obstacle course from Brooklyn Boulders at Astor Place, and an agility course for dogs in Soho! (No big water slide this year, though.) There are many, many activities—check out the list here.

The Summer Streets 2018 route (NYC DOT)
The DOT estimates that 300,000 people enjoyed Summer Streets last year. "Summer Streets will once again offer miles of fun, family-friendly and free activities, all in space that is blissfully free of cars and traffic," DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement. "This year’s Summer Streets activations will allow New Yorkers to see their streets in new and exciting ways. We encourage everyone to get out this year—and enjoy what has become over the last decade one of the great traditions of a New York summer."
These are the street closures:
The following streets will be closed Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm for Summer Streets at the discretion of NYPD.
Route
Centre Street between Brooklyn Bridge exit and Reade Street
Lafayette Street between Reade Street and East 10th Street
Cooper Square between Astor Place and 4th Avenue
4th Avenue between Astor Place and East 15th Street
Union Square East between East 15th Street and East 17th Street
Park Avenue South between East 17th Street and East 32nd Street
Park Avenue between East 32nd Street and East 72nd Street
(Including the viaduct between East 40th Street and East 46th Street)
East 72nd Street between Park Avenue and 5th AvenueRest Stops
Centre Street between Reade Street and Worth Street
Cleveland Place between Kenmare Street and Spring Street
Kenmare Street between Lafayette Street and Mulberry Street
Astor Place between Broadway and 4th Avenue
East 8th Street between Broadway and 3rd Avenue
East 24th Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue
East 25th Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue
East 51st Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue
East 52nd Street between Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue
Tagged
car-free streets
department of transportation
summer streets
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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