Put the ‘Park’ Back in Park Avenue, Selects Landscape Architects and Planners for Transformative Redesign of Iconic Manhattan Street

Concept for a reimagined Park Avenue, with wider median. Credit: NYC Department of City Planning

DOT Selects Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners LLC To Redesign Park Avenue Between East 46th Street and East 57th Street as a Greener, Safer, More Welcoming Corridor

18-Month Contract Will Support Public Engagement, Roadway Analysis, and Streetscape Design Toolkit

The next step to put the ‘park’ back in Park Avenue with the selection of Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners LLC as the design firm to redesign Park Avenue between East 46th Street and East 57th Street was announced today. The firm has been awarded an 18-month contract to support DOT in creating a cohesive, community-informed vision for the corridor. The redesigned Park Avenue will include a wider median, pedestrian enhancements, seating, landscaping, and innovative streetscape amenities. This section of Park Avenue sits directly atop the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed, which is currently undergoing a major capital rehabilitation by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s Metro-North Railroad. As the MTA continues its work to replace and waterproof the train shed structure, NYC DOT is advancing a parallel effort to transform the avenue above into a greener, safer, and more pedestrian-friendly corridor, aligning with the city’s broader goals to reimagine major commercial corridors—such as Fifth Avenue—with expanded public space and improved safety for all users.

The public engagement process will be the next major milestone in the Park Avenue redesign. As part of its 18-month contract, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners LLC will work closely with NYC DOT to lead a series of public engagement events aimed at gathering input from New Yorkers, commuters, local businesses, and other key stakeholders. This collaborative process will help shape the design vision for the corridor and ensure it reflects the needs and aspirations of the surrounding community. Informed by this feedback, the firm will also develop a ‘kit of parts’—a customizable set of design elements such as landscaping, seating, public art, and other pedestrian-focused amenities to be incorporated into the redesigned median. In addition, the firm will develop conceptual designs for drainage, irrigation, and pedestrian security measures, producing a final report of the community-informed design guidelines. 

The redesign is funded through the East Midtown Governing Group, created as part of the 2017 Greater East Midtown Rezoning. The rezoning established a framework in which new commercial developments and the transfer of development rights are required to contribute to nearby public realm improvements—making transformative projects like this possible. 

The Park Avenue redesign is a key piece of the city’s long-term strategy to create a world-class network of public space in Midtown, as recommended by the “New” New York Panel and outlined in the Making New York Work for Everyone action plan. It complements a range of bold initiatives reshaping the public realm across Manhattan’s central business districts, including the expansion of the Broadway Vision Plan, the Fifth Avenue redesign, the opening of Plaza33 at Penn Station, and the forthcoming replacement and expansion of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.