MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CENTRAL PARK, WORLD’S MOST ICONIC GREENSPACE, WILL BECOME PERMANENTLY CAR-FREE

Center Drive, Terrace Drive, East Drive and West Drive will be permanently closed to cars; Decision will return park to its original purpose as a recreational space

  In advance of Earth Day 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Central Park, the world’s most iconic greenspace, will become entirely car-free. Beginning on June 27, 2018, the day after the conclusion of public school classes and the first day outdoor pools are open across the city, the last sections of the park’s loop drives that remain open to cars will be permanently closed to them, returning the park to its original use as an urban refuge and recreation space. More than 42 million visitors flock to Central Park each year. Returning the park’s loop road to walkers, joggers and cyclists will reduce air pollution in the park and improve safety. It also signals New York City’s commitment to prioritizing people over cars in its premier public spaces.

Mayor de Blasio designated Prospect Park’s loop drive as permanently car-free this past January. Both of the city’s iconic 19th century Olmstead and Vaux parks will now share that status.

“Our parks are for people, not cars. For more than a century, cars have turned parts of the world’s most iconic park into a highway. Today we take it back. We are prioritizing the safety and the health of the millions of parents, children and visitors who flock to Central Park,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Like many New Yorkers, I count on Central Park to give me a much-needed dose of nature, and so I applaud the de Blasio administration for taking this important step. Making one of the most famous greenspaces in the world a little greener in honor of Earth Day is the perfect way to celebrate our planet. Summer in the city is going to be that much better now,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“Today we proudly announce that Central Park will be car free,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.   “As with Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, which went permanently car-free earlier this year, the change will be welcome news to pedestrians, cyclists and those who love our parks.  We thank the Mayor for his leadership, and congratulate the advocates who fought for decades to make this day a reality. We look forward to the celebratory ride this summer.”

“Central Park is not just one of New York’s favorite parks – it’s one of the most-beloved, most-recognized parks in the entire world. Now, we’re making history by demonstrating just how clean, accessible, and safe an urban park can be,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

Cars have used Central Park’s scenic loop drive for more than a century. Reductions in the hours during which cars are permitted began in the 1960s. Most recently, in 2015, Mayor de Blasio had announced that all park drives north of 72nd Street would be car-free. Northbound car traffic has continued to be permitted on Center Drive from 7am-7pm on weekdays, and southbound traffic has continued on West Drive, Terrace Drive and Center Drive from 8am-10am on weekdays.

The transverse roadways at 97^th, 86^th, 79^th and 65^th Streets are not affected by these changes. They were built into the park’s original design as fully-separated, below-grade streets to accommodate thru-traffic.

DOT, NYC Parks, NYPD and the Central Park Conservancy are coordinating on this transition. DOT analysis shows that traffic increases on surrounding areas is expected to be minimal. To help enforce this change, the NYPD will make additional Traffic Enforcement Agents available at local intersections. As the car-free hours take effect, DOT will closely monitor conditions to better accommodate traffic changes, as well as implement additional changes if necessary.