Open Street Season Returns To Fort Greene, Clinton Hill: What To Know

BROOKLYN, NY — With the promise of (mostly) balmy spring days ahead, Brooklynites in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill will be able to enjoy car-free outdoor time in the neighborhood, according to a recent announcement.

The city on Friday announced more than 300 blocks participating in this year's Open Streets program — the third season of the pandemic initiative that has since become permanent.

While 21 new streets around the city have been added to this season's list, including one near Fort Greene, the neighborhood's pedestrianized streets are mostly returners — including several that are among the city's few streets permanently prioritizing pedestrians and bikes.

One former Open Street, though, seems to have been scrapped. Here's the full list of returning, shuttered, and soon-to-open Open Streets in and around Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Returning Open Streets

• Willoughby Avenue from Washington Park to Hall Street in Fort Greene. Limited local access (meaning no through traffic permitted) midnight to 11:59 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
• South Portland Avenue from Dekalb Avenue to Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene. Limited local access from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
• Hall Street from Park Avenue to Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. Limited local access from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Shuttered Open Street

• Downing Street from Gates Avenue to Putnam Avenue isn't including on the current list of Open Streets.

New nearby-ish Open Street

• Duffield Street from Metrotech Center to Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Full closure (meaning no vehicle access or parking save from emergency vehicles) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday as of April 25 in partnership with local schools.

"Open Streets was one of the few bright spots of the pandemic, and I am proud that we have found a way to support more streets in more diverse communities in every borough that can be part of this incredible and permanent program," Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.

Streets around the city have been transformed over the past two years thanks to the program — even amid complaints that leaders were neglecting open streets in neighborhoods of color.

Citywide, including in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, the Open Street program has also spurred some complaints from car owners who say the blocked-off corridors pose an inconvenience, but polling has shown strong support for the program.

The Willoughby Avenue Open Street in particular was the subject of a brief but controversial closure, which prompted a tense neighborhood forum.

Some additional confusion arose last month, after a bike lane sign was removed, but officials from the Department of Transportation quickly clarified that the street is open as usual.

At the end of last year the DOT made infrastructure investments to the eight-block stretch of Willoughby Avenue in order to make the street even more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists.

Patch editor Nick Garber contributed to this report.

Related Coverage:

• Removal Of Bike Lane Sign At Fort Greene Open Street Prompts Confusion
  
• 'Beloved' Fort Greene Open Street Briefly Closed Over City Mishap
• Willoughby Avenue To Get 'Open Street' Upgrades This Month: DOT