Crown Heights Gets Another Open Street

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Pedestrians and cyclists have another six blocks of Crown Heights to call their own.

Schenectady Avenue from Eastern Parkway to Empire Boulevard will be the neighborhood's latest addition to the city's "Open Streets" program, the mayor's office announced Wednesday.

The 0.33-mile stretch is part of nine miles of protected bike lanes and 13 new miles of streets opening citywide to help pedestrians and cyclists social distance outdoors.

The city now has 67 miles of "Open Streets" out of a planned 100 miles, officials said.

"As the school year ends and a hot, challenging summer begins, New Yorkers will need more options to play outside," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. "New York City now offers more car-free street space than any other city in the country, and we’re proud to build on that progress in all five boroughs."

The announcement includes several Brooklyn neighborhood streets, including Prospect Heights' Carlton Avenue between Dean and Bergen streets.

City officials also plan to outfit some Open Streets with shady areas and spraying fire hydrants to help New Yorkers stay cool in the summer heat, they announced this week.

This new "Cool Streets" model will be added to open streets that are in the most heat-burdened communities, though city officials have not yet specified where those blocks will be.

Find a full list of the city's Open Streets here.

Patch writer Anna Quinn contributed to this report.