Open Streets Returns To Prospect And Crown Heights

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, NY — Pedestrians will once again flood Prospect and Crown Heights streets as the city's Open Streets program returns to Brooklyn.

Starting in March and lasting through December, three stretches of road will close to car traffic, a move that proved successful for Prospect Heights and all of New York City in 2022.

The following streets will intermittently close to car traffic:

• Vanderbilt Avenue from Atlantic Avenue to Park Place; March 31 - Nov. 19; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
• Underhill Avenue from Pacific Street to St. John's Place; April 3 - Dec. 29; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
• Buffalo Avenue from Bergen Street to St Marks Avenue; June 17 - Sept. 30; 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

A New York City Department of Transportation study from October 2022 found the Open Streets program on Vanderbilt Avenue prompted a 20 percent boost in local sales over pre-pandemic levels, Patch reported in October 2022.

A Park Slope Open Street saw a 26 percent increase in sales compared to pre-pandemic sales, according to the report.

Citywide, sales on Open Streets grew 19 percent — all while car-filled corridors dropped by 29 percent, according to the report.