Massive Pedestrian, Cyclist Takeover Coming To Prospect Heights

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, NY — A long stretch of Eastern Parkway will be pedestrian and cyclist heaven for one morning in August.

Eastern Parkway will be shut to cars from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Street — more than two miles — from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 26.

The street will be completely taken over by pedestrians, cyclists and summer programming for Brooklynites to enjoy their street.

Eastern Parkway is one of nine to shut for a summer morning as part of NYC's Summer Streets program totaling 20 miles of staggered car-free streets, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.

"When you think about it, streets are just not places where cars drive up and down," Adams said. "Streets are used for everything now, mopeds, walking, skateboarding, roller skating, when you think about it, coming outside and strolling and really compelling people to really interact with each other."

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The Summer Streets program doubled this year, expanding to all five boroughs. In July, long streets in Queens and Staten Island will go car-free, followed by Manhattan in August and Brooklyn and the Bronx in August.

"Bringing Summer Streets to all five boroughs is a real win," Adams said. "Summer is a time for everyone."

Prospect Heights will still see its Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street this summer, blocking traffic from Park Place to Atlantic Avenue every weekend through October.