Park Slope Raising Money, Ideas For 2022 Open Streets: Survey

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Officials in Park Slope are getting ready to bring back the neighborhood's popular Open Streets program — but they need your help.

The Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District has put out a survey seeking feedback and suggestions about Open Streets season on the corridor, which has closed down to cars each Saturday so neighbors could dine, shop and play in certain blocks of the roadway.

The Open Streets program has run every weekend since March 13, a total of 51 weekends this year and 76 since the program launched in 2020.

It will return in 2022 for the spring, summer and fall, according to the BID.

"Open streets is a complicated program. We have to take on board differing opinions and needs as we plan," they wrote. "So please give us your feedback and if you can offer up some solutions or even help, we would love to hear from you."

On top of the survey, the BID is also working on raising money for the program, which costs about $80,000 each year to run, according to leaders. A fundraising page on the website will open soon, they said.

Last year, the organization raised $60,000 from the community and local businesses to pay for staff for the season.

This year, they will get some help from the Department of Transportation, who have signed on to give $20,000 to help cover costs, according to the BID. Part of the cost will also be covered by funding the BID is also waiting on from 2021, though it is unclear what amount that will include.

Find the Open Streets survey here. Responses will be accepted through Jan. 5.