Major Step to Put the “Park” Back in Park Avenue

Concept for a reimagined Park Avenue, with wider median. Credit: DOT

City Releases RFP to Redesign Park Avenue Between East 46th Street and East 57th Street, as Greener, Safer, More Welcoming Corridor

City Continues to Advance Efforts to Add Public Space in Business Districts 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced a major step to put the park back in Park Avenue between East 46th Street and East 57th Street by adding greenery, public seating, concessions, and safer crossings for pedestrians. The city released an RFP today to help develop a cohesive design vision for that portion of Park Avenue, which sits atop the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed — currently undergoing a major capital rehabilitation by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s Metro-North Railroad. This effort comes as the city continues to advance its vision to permanently reimagine Fifth Avenue as a safer, less congested, pedestrian-centered boulevard, as well as other public realm projects in commercial corridors across the city. 

“High-quality public spaces aren’t just a luxury — they’re a necessity, and they’re a vital component of our vision to revitalize commercial corridors like Midtown and build a safer, more affordable, better city for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Our ambitious project will ensure that as the MTA completes its underground structural work, the Park Avenue that goes back on top will be better than ever, with more space for people to enjoy the greatest city in the world.”

Currently, the City of New York and the MTA are rehabilitating and repairing the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed, which spans from East 46th Street to East 57th Street. This ambitious construction project will address critical infrastructure needs by replacing the train shed roof structure and waterproofing membrane while enhancing Park Avenue, which sits atop the train shed and will be removed and reconstructed in stages as subsurface work proceeds. As the MTA completes its train shed work, Park Avenue will be restored with an expanded median for pedestrians featuring verdant landscaping and seating. The transformational redesign of Park Avenue that emerges from this project will enhance public space, promote sustainable transit options, and foster community among residents and visitors. The MTA began its construction on the block of Park Avenue between East 47th and East 48th Street. That block will be the first along the avenue to feature a wider median when the street is restored as early as 2025.  

Through the RFP process, DOT is seeking design services from a contractor with a background in landscape architecture or urban design to help fill in that wider median, encompassing pedestrian enhancements, cycling infrastructure, landscaping, and innovative streetscape amenities. The selected design team will work with relevant agencies and engage with local stakeholders to produce design concepts that are infrastructurally sound and meet community needs.

The RFP builds on DOT’s public engagement along Park Avenue that began in 2020 through an online visioning survey that received over 1,700 responses. The overwhelming majority of respondents supported a redesign of Park Avenue with expanded medians allowing for enhanced pedestrian space and potential to create additional capacity for seating, art, concessions, landscaping, or possible bike connections. Park Avenue’s median will be redesigned in coordination with the MTA and community stakeholders, including local businesses. Funding for the RFP has been provided through the East Midtown Governing Group, which was created as a part of the 2017 Greater East Midtown Rezoning. The rezoning created a mechanism through which new office development and the sale of development rights require contribution to public realm improvements, like this redesign of Park Avenue.

The Park Avenue redesign will be an important next step in the effort to create a world-class network of public space in Midtown, as recommended by the “New” New York Panel to rebuild New York City’s economy as outlined in the “Making New York Work for Everyone” action plan. It builds on other initiatives, including expansion of the Broadway Vision Plan, launch of the Fifth Avenue redesign, opening of Plaza33 at Penn Station, a new agreement to support the replacement and expansion of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and more.