Largest Ever Summer Streets, Unveils More Than 22 Miles of Car-Free Streets This Summer

Summer Streets on Vernon Boulevard in Queens last summer. Credit: NYC DOT

Record Route with More Than 22 Miles of Car-Free Streets Across All Five Boroughs in July and August

For First Time, New Yorkers Can Travel Length of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood on a Car-Free Route

Free, Local Running and Walking Events Debuting at Summer Streets

The city’s largest-ever Summer Streets, featuring more than 22 miles of car-free streets and two free community races in partnership with the nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR) was announced today. For the first time ever, New Yorkers will also be able to travel the length of Manhattan, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood, on a car-free route.

With the largest ever expansion, Summer Streets will also return to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, including a brand-new route along Forest Avenue on Staten Island. This year, over 22 miles of Summer Streets corridors will be open to pedestrians and cyclists, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM for five consecutive Saturdays, from July 26 through August 23.

As part of this year’s expanded programming, DOT is partnering with NYRR to launch the NYRR Start Line Series, a new initiative bringing free, community-based run and walk events to Summer Streets. Geared toward beginner athletes, the pilot series will debut with events in Queens and Brooklyn on Saturday, July 26 and on Saturday, August 23. Registration for the NYRR Start Line Series will open later this month.

In addition to the new races, Summer Streets will showcase a range of engaging public art installations that activate the corridors and celebrate the city’s creative spirit. DOT Art released an open call earlier this year and selected two installations to be presented as one-day activations at rest stops along the Summer Streets routes: Mookntaka’s Friends and Follies inflatable sculptures will inspire spontaneous play in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and on Staten Island, and Acrylicize’s new interactive sculpture, Collective Bloom, will harness human energy to initiate change in Manhattan. Two illustrators, Yuke Li and Tou Yia Xiong, from a separate open call, were commissioned to design this year’s NYC Art Stop Letters , which celebrate the vibrant activations and fun of Summer Streets, on display at rest stops in all boroughs. Through the support of Lyft and Citi, Citi Bike will offer free day passes for all riders on a classic Citi Bike for 24 hours. Riders can take advantage of the offer by using the promo code LYFTSUMMER25 on the Daypass tab of the Citi Bike App.

Saturday, July 26: Queens and Staten Island

• Queens: Summer Streets will run along Vernon Boulevard, from 44th Drive to 30th The program will allow users to enjoy the entire Queens waterfront in Long Island City and Astoria.
• Staten Island: Summer Streets will run along Forest Avenue, from Broadway to Bard Avenue, marking a brand-new route on Staten Island. 

Saturday, August 2, August 9, and August 16: Manhattan

• Manhattan: Summer Streets will run from the Brooklyn Bridge all the way to Dyckman Street in Inwood, marking the longest Manhattan route in the program’s history. The route will travel along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue up to 110th Street, continue west on 110th Street to Broadway, and head north to Dyckman Street. A special Harlem rest stop will activate Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard from 110th Street to 125th Street, offering programming and community engagement in the heart of Harlem. 

Saturday, August 23: Bronx and Brooklyn

• Bronx: Summer Streets will run along Grand Concourse, from East Tremont Avenue to Mosholu Parkway. This program will open a major car-free corridor to people from the west Bronx to the north Bronx. 
• Brooklyn: Summer Streets will run along Eastern Parkway, from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Avenue. It will connect Prospect Heights and Brownsville along the same route as the Labor Day Caribbean Day Parade — one of the city’s most popular annual events. 

WABC-TV will serve as the official media sponsor of Summer Streets, along with sponsors ALOHA Protein Bars, Brooklyn FC, C4 Performance Energy®, Chamber of Mothers, Coca-Cola, Grand Central Terminal®, MUSH, Remitly, RYZE, siggis, Stonyfield, and Yerba Madre.