Everything To Know About The Upcoming Central Park Redesign

CENTRAL PARK, NY — Central Park roadways once dedicated to vehicular traffic are soon to be reclaimed by pedestrians.

This month, the New York City Parks Department will begin a six-week overhaul to completely redesign the six-mile loop in Central Park to separate pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bikers, the department said.

Right now on the loop there are separate areas for pedestrians, cyclists and cars, but with the city's increase in e-bike usage over the last five years, the lanes need to be redrawn and rebalanced, city officials said.

Part of the goal of the redesign is to separate pedestrians and runners from fast-moving e-bikes, to avoid collisions, which can be fatal, city officials said.

“The much-needed improvements include more space for, and better separation between, pedestrians and cyclists, as well as new traffic lights and pedestrian crossing signs," State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said. "These changes will reduce the likelihood of collisions and make Central Park safer for all New Yorkers to enjoy.”

The redesign will expand walking and running space along most segments of the drives while repurposing the former dedicated vehicle lane — a holdover from when you could drive in the park — into a "flex lane" for e-bikes and specially permitted vehicles.

The redesign will also add new bike lanes and connect existing ones more seamlessly, along with specific traffic lights for bicyclists to further control the flow of park users.

The city will begin by milling and repaving the roadways on March 17 and expects to finish work by the end of April. Expect roadwork in segments during weeknights from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., so that all roads can be paved over the weekends.

"Turning Central Park's drives into car-free spaces has allowed the city to reimagine how the park loop can best reflect the needs of parkgoers," NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. "NYC DOT will be taking advantage of this repaving to prioritize pedestrian safety while also better accommodating cyclists and legal e-mobility options."

To learn more about the construction and how it will impact your routine, click here.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.