Community board to seek public suggestions as city weighs 75 miles of "open streets"

Community Board 2 members discussed drafting a resolution to recommend neighborhood-level "open streets" and agreed to solicit suggestions from block associations, business improvement districts and other community groups before identifying specific streets.

The discussion centered on the city's pending proposal, which Shirley, a board member, said the City Council is "very much favoring putting in 75 miles of open streets." She told the board she "feel[s] very strongly about being transparent about it in some way," and urged outreach so residents can propose streets for consideration.

Why it matters: Council and mayoral decisions about street closures affect deliveries, emergency access, local businesses and how residents can socially distance outdoors. Board members said neighborhood-level proposals are more likely to be manageable and to avoid creating new crowding at destination streets.

Board members debated criteria and local management of any open/shared streets. Carter Booth, serving as meeting chair for the session, noted one practical limit: "the criteria is there can't be bus routes on the streets." Several members said streets that are not primary thoroughfares and that permit local deliveries and emergency access should be prioritized.

Shirley and others recommended the board's traffic and transportation committee collect suggestions and forward a short list for committee discussion. Members discussed using a targeted email to the board's mailing list and inviting block associations to submit streets and supporting reasons in writing before the committee meeting.

Members also raised enforcement and staffing questions. Janine and other board members said the approach should avoid requiring heavy police presence and instead rely on simple road-closed signage and local stewardship where possible. "You don't need a ton of policemen on every block to make this work," Janine said, while noting alternatives such as volunteers or local partnerships should be explored.

Several members tied the open-streets conversation to park use and crowding. They said opening more neighborhood streets would provide outdoor space for residents who cannot access parks or are uncomfortable with crowded park areas.

The board did not vote on a resolution at the meeting. Chairs agreed to circulate instructions and a request for street suggestions to community groups and to discuss a draft in traffic and transportation committee meetings next week.

Members said they will aim for broad community input so any eventual recommendation can be presented as widely supported. "I feel very strongly about being transparent about it in some way," Shirley said, urging the board to gather suggestions from neighborhood groups before naming streets.