Car-Free Parks
Streetsblog Basics
Council Members Urge Bloomberg to Order Car-Free Prospect Park Trial
Last month, as school-age volunteers presented 10,001 signatures in support of a car-free Prospect Park, three City Council Members -- David Yassky, Bill de Blasio and Letitia James -- issued a letter to Mayor Bloomberg requesting a three-month car-free pilot program. The full text appears below.
October 7, 2008
Foes of a Car-Free Trial in Prospect Park Demand Environmental Review
In another case of 1970s-era environmental law being turned on its head, Brooklyn Community Boards 7 and 14 are demanding that the city conduct an environmental review before implementing a proposed, three month car-free trial in Prospect Park next summer. At a press event this morning attended by 19 people near the Park Circle entrance to the park, Assemblyman Jim Brennan joined CB7 chair Randy Peers and CB14 chair Alvin Berk, calling for an Environmental Impact
Statement to study the matter.
October 2, 2008
Community Boards Step Up Opposition to Car-Free Prospect Park
Two weeks ago, the Prospect Park Youth Advocates delivered 10,000 signatures to City Hall asking for a three-month car-free trial. Now Community Boards 7 and 14, as well as a group called the Windsor Terrace Alliance, are demanding that the park remain open to traffic during the morning and evening rush.
October 1, 2008
Streetfilms: The Prospect Park Youth Advocates
The Prospect Park Youth Advocates get some well-earned star treatment in this Streetfilm from Robin Urban Smith. They spent the summer gathering data and collecting signatures for a car-free park, culminating last week with a rally at City Hall. Now we see what it takes to mount a 10,000-letter petition drive: resourcefulness, persistence, and the self-possession to wear a leaf costume with aplomb. Bravo to Farah, Oswald, Selena, and Michael.
September 25, 2008
Youth Advocates Deliver 10,000 Letters Calling For Car-Free Prospect Park
Youth advocate Oswald Bowman kicks things off at yesterday's rally for a car-free Prospect Park.
September 16, 2008
Car-Free Prospect Park Rally Today; Markowitz Not Expected to Attend
If you'll be in Lower Manhattan this afternoon, don't forget today's action by Prospect Park Youth Advocates, who will be delivering postcards to City Hall signed by thousands of New Yorkers who'd like to see the Brooklyn park go car-free. Though Mayor Bloomberg seems to be keeping an open mind on the issue, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is not impressed. Reports the Daily News:
September 15, 2008
Youth Advocates Bringing Car-Free Prospect Park Message to Bloomberg
Having spent their summer working for a car-free Prospect Park, four young Brooklynites are taking their message to the mayor on Monday. And they'll have plenty of backup.
September 12, 2008
“There’s Nothing Legal About the Cars in Prospect Park”
August is here, and while New Yorkers are enduring another summer of rush-hour traffic whipping through the city's flagship parks, some excellent advocacy is bolstering the case for going car-free. Look at the work being done by the Prospect Park Youth Advocates, high school students who are spending their summer vacations gathering data and putting together petitions. Here's youth advocate Michael Cheng describing a recent foray to the Prospect Park loop drive:
August 1, 2008
Business Honchos Lobby Bloomberg for Car-Free Parks
It seems elitist "green" types aren't the only ones who think city parks should be reserved for people. A passage from this week's New York Magazine feature "Who Owns Central Park?" reveals that regular Joe business execs recently warned Mayor Bloomberg of the economic consequences of a city so dominated by cars.
June 26, 2008