Franklin Avenue is one of the densest restaurant and bar strips in Crown Heights, and Open Streets is the day it stops being a traffic corridor and starts being a promenade: kids ride down the middle of the street, cafes push tables out, and you can hear conversations from one sidewalk to the other. The program is free, needs no registration, and it is the simplest illustration of how much better the block works without cars. Walk it end to end and eat your way along.
What to expect
A car-free stretch of avenue with barricades at the cross streets, volunteers managing access, and businesses using the roadway for seating and displays. Expect families cycling, kids on scooters, dog walkers, sidewalk dining spread into the street, and a relaxed pace that lasts all day.
Good to know
- Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, around the Dean Street blocks; 2/3/4/5 to Franklin Avenue or C to Franklin Avenue
- Free and open, with no registration; simply walk or ride in
- Local restaurants and cafes along Franklin are the main draw for food
- Emergency and local vehicle access is maintained, so stay aware near barricades
- A great safe surface for children learning to ride bikes
- Flat and paved, fully accessible for strollers and wheelchairs
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
What is Open Streets?
A city program that closes selected streets to through traffic and hands the roadway to pedestrians, cyclists and local businesses.
Can I drive on the block?
Through traffic is closed, though local and emergency access is maintained by volunteers at the barricades.
Is it free?
Yes. Open Streets is free and requires no registration.
