The fifth car-free Earth Day celebration will officially take place in all five boroughs on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year, Earth Day is observed on Friday, April 22. But what is perhaps even more exciting is that the 2022 event, which follows a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, will kick off the popular show. Open Streets from the city.
The public highway, clear of vehicles, will serve as a stage for artistic presentations, workshops and games for children.
But in addition to promoting a vehicle-free environment, the city will offer programming in the more than 100 streets and 22 squares that will participate in the event.
“Earth Day is when we can all pledge to protect our Earth, and one way to do that is by reusing our roadways,” New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a press release.
“Car-Free Earth Day is a growing tradition that brings New York City’s car-free streets to life. The last two years of open streets, open restaurants, increased bicycle use and much more have only made us appreciate even more how much better we should treat Mother Earth, and a day without cars allows us to imagine a more sustainable world. for more than a day,” he added.
Programming includes dance and music, fitness classes, games for the whole family, trivia games, helmet giveaways, as well as educational workshops and story times.
The event comes the weekend after Earth Day and will ban cars for most of the day at the following locations:
MANHATTAN
- Avenue B between E. 6th Street and E. 14th Street
- Broadway between E. 17th Street and W. 42nd Street
- St. Nicholas Avenue between 181st Street and 190th Street
THE BRONX
- Mosholu Parkway between Van Cortlandt Avenue East and Bainbridge Avenue
- 3rd Avenue between 148th Street and 149th Street
BROOKLYN
- Tompkins Avenue between Gates Avenue and Halsey Street
QUEENS
- 34th Avenue between 69th Street and Junction Boulevard
STATEN ISLAND
- Minthorne Street between Bay Street and Victory Boulevard
The annual event debuted in 2016 but was on hiatus for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rodriguez encouraged New Yorkers interested in bringing the scheme to their block to contact DOT for support.
“If any group of residents, if any local elected official, if any business improvement district wants to put forward a proposal to create an open street, there is an opportunity for them to be added and there is financial support for those who need it,” he said.
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