For ten hours Vanderbilt Avenue shuts to traffic between Atlantic Avenue and Park Place, and the roadway fills with diners, dog walkers, strollers and bikes rolling down the middle of the street. Now in its seventh season, it is a volunteer-run full-closure Open Street, and one of the last before the season wraps at the end of September. If you want an easy, free Brooklyn afternoon or evening, start here.
What to expect
Expect a fully closed stretch of Vanderbilt with pedestrians, cyclists and families using the full width of the street. The avenue's restaurants and bars line the corridor, so it works as a stroll-and-graze afternoon or a relaxed dinner outdoors, and it stays open well into the evening.
Good to know
- Free and open to everyone, no tickets or RSVP
- Nearest subway: Bergen St (2/3) or Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr (2/3/4/5/B/D/N/Q/R)
- Weekend dinner hours get busy, so arrive earlier for an easier table
- Kid- and dog-friendly with plenty of room to walk
- Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park are a short walk south
- Run by volunteers from Prospect Heights Open Streets, Inc.
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
Is the Vanderbilt Open Street free?
Yes. The street is open public space, so it's free to walk around. You only pay for what you buy at the restaurants and shops along the avenue.
Which part of Vanderbilt Avenue is closed?
Vanderbilt Avenue is closed to cars between Atlantic Avenue and Park Place in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Who runs it?
Prospect Heights Open Streets, Inc., a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Open Street.
