DOT Press Releases - 'Trick-or-Streets': Adams Administration Announces First-Ever Expansion of Open Street Hours for Halloween, Cut Ribbon on 34th Avenue Redesign in Queens

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2022

Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov

'Trick-or-Streets': Adams Administration Announces First-Ever Expansion of Open Street Hours for Halloween, Cuts Ribbon on 34th Avenue Redesign in Queens

Nearly 100 Open Streets and other newly pedestrianized streets will be car-free next Monday evening, October 31st, activated for ghoulish “Trick-or Streets” events that will allow families more public space in celebration of Halloween.

The 34th Avenue Open Street in Jackson Heights is also celebrated -- as extraordinary public space improvements implemented by DOT this year have permanently prioritized pedestrians and cyclists.

NEW YORK—Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the activation of nearly 100 Open Streets and other newly pedestrianized streets to celebrate Halloween night. Today's event was held along the 34th Avenue Open Street in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of the prime locations being activated next Monday for a groundbreaking program being called "Trick-or-Streets". See location list below, or visit the Trick-or-Streets map. Commissioner Rodriguez also joined community groups, advocates, and local elected officials to cut the ribbon on 34th Avenue, one of next week's locations that is also New York City's longest Open Street.

"As we permanently open the gold standard, Open Street on 34th Avenue, we hope every family and every child has a safe and enjoyable Halloween with special evening Trick-or-Streets across the entire city," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "This program brings together communities and city government to promote safety, community, and fun, and I want to thank all our partners on the ground for their contributions. Happy Halloween, New Yorkers!"

"I am incredibly excited to build on the triumph of our thriving Open Streets program by launching our first ever Trick-Or-Streets initiative this Halloween, providing greater access to safer, shared community spaces," said NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "I thank Mayor Adams and our dedicated staff for planning this groundbreaking event and hope families will take the opportunity to safely Trick-Or-Treat on an Open Street. And as a bonus, we are celebrating Trick-or-Streets with all the fiendish friends and community partners who have made the official ribbon-cutting along the incredible 34th Avenue Open Street possible."

34th Avenue Open Street

DOT today celebrated the substantial completion of the 34th Ave Open Street redesign, a groundbreaking project that has transformed 1.3 miles of 34th Avenue into a pedestrian and cyclist priority corridor. The project includes new plaza and shared street blocks centered at the schools, enhancing safety, accessibility, and creating vibrant programming space for children attending the seven schools within a block of the Jackson Heights corridor.

Started in the depths of the pandemic in 2020, the 34th Avenue Open Street quickly developed into a family-focused oasis on what was once a car-centric corridor. A new network of community spaces was created for Jackson Heights neighbors of all backgrounds and ages, the Open Street dramatically reduced vehicular volumes and through traffic. As a result of the changes, safety has improved for all road users, with a 41.7% drop in crashes involving pedestrians.

This project is a shining example of how DOT is working with communities to rethink New York City streets as public space, marking a significant stride in bringing new public spaces from Bike Boulevards to Shared Streets to Pedestrian Plaza to enhance completely residential corridors. DOT will continue to engage with the Jackson Heights community about the future of this corridor, including public surveys and visioning sessions for the capital project funded with $84M in city funding and an additional $750,000 from former City Council Member Daniel Dromm. The larger Open Streets program continues to transform streets for people and DOT has several similar public space projects either planned, or recently completed, in neighborhoods across the city.

Trick-or-Streets

For the first time, Open Streets will expand its hours into Halloween night, when families with children will be welcome to enjoy fa-boo-lous fun on select car-free streets.

In addition to 34th Avenue, Halloween Open Streets will occur on nearly 100 Open Streets and other newly pedestrianized streets on Monday, October 31st from 4 PM – 8PM. See location list below, or visit the Trick-or-Streets map.

NYC DOT is excited to partner with the following Open Streets for special activations on Halloween:

Borough
Location
Streets
Partner

Bronx
Jennings Street
Prospect Avenue to Chisholm Street
Caldwell Enrichment Program Inc

Bronx
Willis Avenue
East 147 Street to East 148 Street
Third Avenue Business Improvement District

Brooklyn
Berry Street
Broadway to North 12 Street
North Brooklyn Open Streets Community Coalition

Brooklyn
Beverly Road
East 2 Street to Church Avenue
NYC DOT

Brooklyn
Chauncey Street
Howard Avenue to Saratoga Avenue
Chauncey Street Block & Tenants Association

Brooklyn
Hall Street
Park Avenue to Myrtle Avenue
Hall Street Block Association

Brooklyn
Howard Avenue
Macon Street to Halsey Street
Friends of Saratoga Park Bed-Stuy + LLTCRN

Brooklyn
Joralemon Street
Furman Street to Hicks Street
Willowtown Association

Brooklyn
Pearl Street
Fulton Street to Dead End
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

Brooklyn
Polhemus Place
Carroll Street to Garfield Place
Polhemus Place Block Association

Brooklyn
Reed Street
Van Brunt Street to Conover Street
Hometown BBQ

Brooklyn
Sharon Street
Olive Street to Morgan Avenue
Friends of Cooper Park

Brooklyn
South Portland Avenue
Dekalb Avenue to Lafayette Avenue
Fort Greene Open Streets Coalition

Brooklyn
State Street
Smith Street to Nevins Street
Boerum Hill Association

Brooklyn
Underhill Avenue
Atlantic Avenue to St Johns Place
Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council

Brooklyn
Washington Street
Front Street to Water Street
Dumbo Improvement District

Brooklyn
Watkins Street
Dead End to Belmont Avenue
Brownsville Community Justice Center

Brooklyn
West 9 Street
Henry Street to Hicks Street
Red Hook Initiative

Brooklyn
Willoughby Avenue
Washington Park to Hall Street
Fort Greene Open Streets Coalition

Brooklyn
Willoughby Street
Pearl Street to Jay Street
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

Manhattan
Avenue B
East 6 Street to East 14 Street
Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition

Manhattan
Avenue Of The Americas
Spring Street to Dominick Street
Hudson Square Business Improvement District

Manhattan
Bond Street
Lafayette Street to Bowery
il Buco

Manhattan
Broadway
West 25 Street to West 27 Street
Flatiron NoMad Partnership

Manhattan
Broome Street
Allen Street to Ludlow Street
Lower East Side Partnership

Manhattan
Canal Street
Essex Street to Orchard Street
Cervo's

Manhattan
Doyers Street
Chatham Square to Pell Street
Chinatown Business Improvement District

Manhattan
Duane Street
Hudson Street to West Broadway
Khe-Yo

Manhattan
East 115 Street
at Park Avenue
Uptown Grand Central

Manhattan
East 18 Street
Park Avenue South to Irving Place
Gramercy Neighborhood Associates

Manhattan
East 20 Street
Park Avenue South to Broadway
Rezdora

Manhattan
East 4 Street
Bowery to 2 Avenue
FABnyc

Manhattan
East 7 Street
Avenue A to 1 Avenue
Overthrow Hospitality

Manhattan
East 78 Street
Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue
The Allen-Stevenson School

Manhattan
Elizabeth Street
Spring Street to Prince Street
Peasant

Manhattan
Forsyth Street
East Broadway to Division Street
Chinatown Business Improvement District

Manhattan
Gansevoort Street
Hudson Street to 10 Avenue
Meatpacking District Management Association

Manhattan
Hester Street
Mott Street to Mulberry Street
LIttle Italy Merchants Association

Manhattan
Hudson Boulevard East
West 35 Street to West 36 Street
Hudson Yards Hell's Kitchen Alliance

Manhattan
Hudson Boulevard West
West 35 Street to West 36 Street
Hudson Yards Hell's Kitchen Alliance

Manhattan
Lafayette Street
Spring Street to Kenmare Street
Altamarea Group

Manhattan
Little West 12 Street
Washington Street to 9 Avenue
Meatpacking District Management Association

Manhattan
Ludlow Street
Stanton Street to Rivington Street
Lower East Side Partnership

Manhattan
Morton Street
7 Avenue South to Bleecker Street
Cara JECM LLC

Manhattan
Mulberry Street
Hester Street to Broome Street
Little Italy Merchants Association

Manhattan
Orchard Street
Grand Street to Delancey Street
Lower East Side Partnership

Manhattan
Pell Street
Bowery to Mott Street
Chinatown Business Improvement District

Manhattan
Rivington Street
Chrystie Street to Bowery
Ray's Bar

Manhattan
Rivington Street
Allen Street to Ludlow Street
Lower East Side Partnership

Manhattan
Rivington Street
Eldridge Street to Forsyth Street
JADIS

Manhattan
Spring Street
Mott Street to Elizabeth Street
Mari Makan

Manhattan
Spring Street
Thompson Street to West Broadway
Bistro Les Amis

Manhattan
Stanton Street
Allen Street to Ludlow Street
Lower East Side Partnership

Manhattan
Stone Street
Hanover Square to Coenties Alley
Stone Street Community Association

Manhattan
Waverly Place
7 Avenue South to Christopher Street
Jeffrey's Grocery

Manhattan
West 103 Street
Riverside Drive to Broadway
Park to Park 103

Manhattan
West 120 Street
Lenox Avenue to Mt Morris Park West
Marcus Meets Malcolm

Manhattan
West 13 Street
Hudson Street to Washington Street
Meatpacking District Management Association

Manhattan
West 196 Street
Broadway to Ellwood Street
City College Academy of the Arts

Manhattan
West 21 Street
10 Avenue to 9 Avenue
West 21st Street Open Streets Coalition

Manhattan
West 22 Street
5 Avenue to Avenue Of The Americas
Flatiron NoMad Partnership

Manhattan
West 22 Street
7 Avenue to 8 Avenue
Chelsea West 200 Block Association

Queens
31 Avenue
33 Street to 35 Street
31st Ave Open Street Collective

Queens
34 Avenue
69 Street to Junction Boulevard
34th Ave Open Streets Coalition

Queens
Barton Avenue
149 Place to 150 Street
Asian American Federation

Queens
Murdock Avenue
180 Street to Dead End
Addisleigh Park Civic Association

Queens
Woodside Avenue
76 Street to 78 Street
Thai Community USA NYC

In partnership with the NYC Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO), NYC DOT is also excited to partner with several locations opening space for pedestrians on Halloween:

Borough
Location
Streets
Partner

Bronx
Decatur Avenue
East Fordham Road to East 193 Street
10th Annual Ms. Abbies Childrens Halloween Extravaganza

Brooklyn
17 Street
7 Avenue to 8 Avenue
17 Street - Halloween 2022

Brooklyn
Albemarle Road
Argyle Road to Rugby Road
Prospect Park South Annual Halloween Celebration

Brooklyn
Dean Street
Bond Street to Nevins Street
Dean Street Halloween Closure

Brooklyn
East 4 Street
Caton Avenue to Albemerle Road
2022 Halloween Block Party

Brooklyn
Fulton Street
Rochester Avenue to Ralph Avenue
Halloween Trunk or Treat 2022

Brooklyn
Lafayette Avenue
St Felix Street to Ashland Place Columbus Avenue
BAMboo 2022

Brooklyn
Macon Street
Lewis Avenue to Stuyvesant Avenue
Masquerade on Macon

Brooklyn
Ovington Avenue
12 Avenue to 13 Avenue
PS 176 Pumpkin Patch Event 2022

Brooklyn
State Street
Nevins Street to 3 Avenue
State Street Halloween Block Party

Brooklyn
Waverly Avenue
Willoughby Avenue to Dekalb Avenue
Annual Clinton Hill Halloween Safety Walk With Street Activities

Manhattan
East 10 Street
1 Avenue to 2 Avenue
Village Halloween Costume Ball

Manhattan
East 82 Street
3 Avenue to Lexington Avenue
Halloween Party with Robin Hood Foundation

Manhattan
East 92 Street
Madison Avenue to Park Avenue
CHN Spooktacular

Manhattan
Laguardia Place
Washington Square South to West 3 Street
NYU and CB2 Childrens Halloween Parade

Manhattan
Wadsworth Avenue
West 176 Street to West 177 Street
Halloween Celebration

Manhattan
West 139 Street
Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard to Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Strivers Row Halloween Event

Manhattan
West 69 Street
Central Park West to Broadway
Halloween Festival

Manhattan
West 78 Street
Amsterdam Avenue to Columbus Avenue
Halloween 2022

Manhattan
West 90 Street
Central Park West to Columbus Avenue
Halloween Trick or Treating

Manhattan
West 95 Street
Central Park West to Columbus Avenue
West 95th Street 2022 Halloween Party

Queens
39 Avenue
Barnett Avenue to 48 Street
Halloween Street Closure

Queens
45 Avenue
21 Street to 23 Street
Court Square Annual Halloween Trick or Treating

Queens
Hollis Avenue
211 Street to 212 Street
A Haunting in Hollis

NYC DOT's Public Space partners are joining in the fun throughout the Halloween weekend! Keep an eye out for Halloween and Dia de las Muertos programming at a plaza or Open Street near you. NYC DOT's Public Space Programing Initiative brings free arts, cultural, fitness, and educational experiences to public spaces that are free and open to New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. Learn more about Public Space Programming at www.nyc.gov/publicspaceprogramming

Upcoming Halloween Events on Monday, October 31st

Dumbo Arch Way

Pearl Street between Water Street and Anchorage Place, Brooklyn

4:00 pm - Annual March to the Arch - parade through Dumbo & Brooklyn Bridge Park, led by brass bands & puppets! (Start Washington at Water Streets).

4:30 pm -7:00 pm - Dumboween Party. Live music. Arts & crafts. Fa-boo-lous photo booth. Costume contest for humans and pets. And of course, candy. Plus pick up a map of trick or treating in the neighborhood.

12th Street Plaza

12th Street Between 44th Avenue and 43rd Road, Queens

4:00pm – 6:00pm Families! Trick or treat your way around the 12th Street Plaza with arts & crafts, candy and lots of fun!

Myrtle Avenue Plaza

Myrtle Avenue from Grand Avenue to Emerson Place, Brooklyn

4:00pm – 6:00pm Myrtle Avenue Monster Mash

The annual Halloween dance party on Myrtle Avenue is back with games, treats, a DJ, dancing and a special Thriller Dance off.

Quisqueya Plaza

Dyckman Street between Broadway and Seaman Avenue

3:00pm – Halloween Parade Spooktacular

3:00pm – 8:00pm – Quisqueya Plaza's First Halloween Party!

Join in the fun with games, food, beverage, and prizes for the best costume!

Open Streets Background

In May 2021, the New York City Council passed legislation to make Open Streets a permanent program. This bill codifies the Open Streets program as part of the City's administrative code. Through a permanent Open Street program, DOT has created a portal of engagement with the public to allow for a range of activities that promote safe and accessible transportation, economic development, support schools, and provide new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community. More on the program, including how to apply, can be found at nyc.gov/openstreets

"From farmer's markets to tai chi to kids' games and more, our Open Streets and the programming they offer have been revolutionary for our city on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Turning these spaces into spooky hubs of haunted Halloween fun for families next week is yet another incredible example of why the Open Streets program is so great," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "On behalf of families from Jackson Heights, Woodside Flushing, Astoria and Addisleigh Park, I thank the DOT for the activation of these open streets for the holiday."

"Halloween is a tradition enjoyed by people of all ages, and the Trick-or-Streets project will guarantee a safe festivity packed weekend," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "I commend New York City Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez on the Trick-or-Streets initiative to help keep residents out of harm's way this Halloween."

"Nothing could be sweeter than trick-or-treating on the 34th Avenue Open Street. This transformative project epitomizes the benefits of repurposing the city's street space to emphasize pedestrian and non-motorized traffic, and the news that the work to make 34th Avenue a permanent Open Street is largely complete couldn't come at a better time," said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC. We're also absolutely elated that the Adams administration is giving the city's kids the opportunity to celebrate Halloween on dozens of car-free streets next Monday. Advocates have been urging the city to do this for years, and we hope that this all-treat and no-trick policy will continue to expand in coming years."

"Car-free streets are safe streets. Extending the hours of Open Streets on Halloween will protect young people trick-or-treating," said Elizabeth Adams, Senior Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Transportation Alternatives. "New Yorkers deserve permanent, 24/7 Open Streets year-round. 34th Avenue can and should be a model of what's possible when we build streets for people."

With additional bike lanes, enhanced safety measures, and more open space, all while serving as a central gathering place for our school children, 34th Ave is the quintessential Open Street design," said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. Kudos to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for transforming this 1.3 mile stretch in Jackson heights—already a major destination with its rich history and diversity—into one of New York City's safest neighborhoods to explore. And speaking of safety, NYLCV is thrilled with the "Trick-or-Streets" program, which means our trick-or-treaters can worry more about dodging zombies and werewolves and less about cars and trucks."

"The 34th Avenue Open Street project is a win for all people living in this area. This is a good initiative to support safe and accessible streets for people with disabilities. We must ensure that the streets are clear of traffic hazards that could injure people with disabilities," said Sharon McLennon-Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, executive director, Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York.