Celebrating 100 Days Of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue Open Street

BROOKLYN, NY — The Fifth Avenue Open Street, now a fixture of one of Park Slope's main commercial corridors, will soon celebrate its 100th day.

The open street kicked off in Park Slope on Independence Day 2020, closing a stretch of Fifth Avenue to cars in the midst of the first pandemic summer.

Fast forward three years, the über-successful community space has added blocks, received extra city resources and this year rolled out a busier-than-ever calendar of events spanning from April through October.

Joanna Tallantire, executive director of the Park Slope Business Improvement District overseeing the open street, said it's surreal to think that the program's been running for 100 days.

"It doesn’t seem possible, but we’re thrilled we’ve been able to consistently deliver this super-popular amenity to the community," she said in a statement.

In addition to being popular, the open street has also been a lifeline for local businesses, she added.

"Many of the independently owned small businesses along Fifth Avenue credit the crowds drawn by open streets with saving them during the Covid shutdown, allowing them to stay in business."

To commemorate of its 100th day, on Aug. 13, the Park Slope Business Improvement District is celebrating with a fitting event — a special street party.

The salsa dance party, organized with Besito's Restaurant, will take place from noon to 10 p.m. near the eatery on a stretch of Fifth Avenue between Dean and Bergen.

While the milestone is cause for celebration, Tallantire noted that it also represents an immense amount of community support — both physical and financial.

"Open Streets comes with a price," she said. "To make sure the streets stay safe and closed to vehicle traffic, we have to continuously raise money to pay our support staff who are dedicated to the security and well-being of our community."

Tallantire urged neighbors to donate in support of the program's $30,000 annual goal, which is currently at about $24,500.

The Fifth Avenue Open Street will continue to run on Saturdays through the end of October, with the final day on Oct. 29.