More Of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue To Open For Outdoor Dining

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Another three blocks of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue will transform into an al fresco dining destination, the city announced.

A stretch of Fifth Avenue from Sterling Place to Berkely Place is among 21 locations Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday will be added to the city's Open Streets and Open Restaurants program. The 21 new spots include blocks closing to cars for restaurants and "Play Streets," or blocks closing to cars so children can play.

The new stretch of Fifth Avenue will be among those opening up for outdoor dining. It adds to an existing stretch from Park Place and Dean Street, which closes to cars on the Saturday afternoons to allow restaurants more room.

"Rebuilding a fairer and better city means using our urban landscape creatively, and I'm proud to build on the success of our Open Streets program," de Blasio said. "New Yorkers have sacrificed so much during this crisis and they deserve the opportunity to safely enjoy their neighborhoods and communities."

Like the original stretch of Fifth Avenue, the new three blocks opening to restaurants will be managed by the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District.

New open streets in Brooklyn also include a stretch of Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights and a stretch of 61st Street in Sunset Park.

The "Open Restaurants on Open Streets" plan started a few weeks after restaurants were first allowed to welcome customers back for outdoor dining as the city reopens its economy from the coronavirus crisis.

The initial phase of the Open Restaurants program lets eateries set up tables on sidewalks or parking lanes. More than 9,500 restaurants have signed up so far citywide, including more than hundreds in Park Slope.

The extra space for restaurants also comes as New York City postpones the return of indoor dining, originally meant to start next week, due to coronavirus spikes in other areas of the country.