NYC to Open More Streets for Kids This Fall: Is This the Future of School Zones?

NYC Schools Get More Open Streets This Fall

New York City is making a major push to make school zones safer and more kid-friendly, with a record number of "open streets" set to operate outside schools this fall.

71 streets across the city will be closed to cars during school hours, up from 64 last year, with the program aiming to:

• Improve safety for students and families
• Make pick-ups and drop-offs smoother
• Give kids more outdoor space

The program is funded in part by the Public Space Equity Program, a $30 million commitment from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create more plazas and open streets in under-resourced neighborhoods.

Starting in 2025, DOT will directly fund the management, operations, and programming of school streets. Applications will open in October for the 2025 program. This commitment is a sign of the city's dedication to making these open streets a permanent fixture.

The push for safer school zones is not new. The city has a long history of closing streets near schools, with the "Playstreets" program starting in 1968. Open streets, initially launched during the pandemic in 2020, are now bringing the concept back to schools, with communities and schools taking the lead in reclaiming streets for pedestrians.

While this expansion is positive, there's a need for more city support. The number of open streets outside schools has shrunk since 2021, highlighting the need for consistent funding and resources.

The goal is to make open streets the norm outside schools. Advocates believe these spaces are transformative for school communities, and that the city should work to reduce barriers to success, like funding, staffing, and outreach, to make school streets accessible to all schools.