9 Upper East Side Open Streets Returning This Season: What To Know

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — As the weather warms up, New Yorkers are heading outside — and Upper East Siders will have a slew of pedestrianized streets to enjoy this spring and summer, according to a new 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, the Upper East Side's open streets are all returners — and almost all associated with local schools, according to the Department of Transportation. (Meanwhile, one former open street seems to have been scrapped.)

Here's the full list of Upper East Side open streets:

East 73rd Street: Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue (starting Sept. 12) :

• Partner: The Buckley School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

East 78th Street: Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue:

• Partner: The Allen-Stevenson School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

East 81st Street: Park Avenue to Madison Avenue:

• Partner: P.S. 6
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

East 82nd Street: Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue:

• Partner: Marymount School of New York
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

East 90th Street: Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue (starting May 1):

• Partner: Church of the Heavenly Rest
• Schedule: Wednesdays, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m.-2 p.m.

East 91st Street: Park Avenue to Madison Avenue (starting Aug. 29):

• Partner: Dalton School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

East 91st Street: Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue (starting Sept. 6):

• Partner: The Spence School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

East 92nd Street: Fifth Avenue to Madison Avenue (starting Sept. 5):

• Partner: The Nightingale Bamford School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

East 93rd Street: Park Avenue to Madison Avenue (starting Aug. 29):

• Partner: The Spence School
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

At least one previous open street appears to have been discontinued this season: the East End Avenue segment, which ran from East 83rd to 89th streets, alongside Carl Schurz Park.

"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. And despite complaints from car owners who say they pose an inconvenience, polling has shown strong support for the program.