NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The Department of Transportation announced the return of the Holiday Open Streets program, with portions of Fifth Ave. closing select December Sundays to support businesses and spark holiday cheer in the community.
The first day of the program is Dec. 3, with Fifth Ave. car-free from noon to 6 p.m. between West 48th Street and West 59th Street, the agency said. The other Holiday Open Street Days are Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.
Two vehicle lanes will also be closed to traffic from West 48th Street to West 52nd Street for a large part of the holiday season, “beginning in the early afternoon on weekdays and morning on weekends,” the DOT said.
The program will provide pedestrian-only areas near West 49th Street and West 50th Street.
The NYPD announced the return of the Holiday Open Streets program in a post on X and included a map of the affected areas.
Due to the program’s widespread success, the DOT expanded open streets’ reach by almost 25% for 2023 in order to connect the pedestrian path to Central Park.
“Midtown Manhattan is one of the best places in the world to celebrate the holiday season, and we're bringing some extra holiday cheer to Fifth Avenue,” NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said.
“Providing a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits iconic locations like Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park during the holiday season is not only a cause for celebration for pedestrians, but also for local businesses that will see additional foot traffic,” Rodriguez added.
According to a study performed by Mastercard, in association with the New York Office of Technology and Innovation and Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu, when streets were car-free businesses experienced a $3 million increase in spending. This is a 6.6% bump.
“Open Streets are good for people and good for business, and we can’t wait to bring back the iconic Fifth Avenue Open Street this holiday season – bigger and better than ever,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “I felt the energy walking down the middle of Fifth Avenue last year – it was electric.”
The Fifth Avenue Association is hosting programming called “The Gift of Fifth” Sunday during open street hours to kick off the season, with the main event being the 1 p.m. lighting of a giant snowflake suspended 50 feet over Fifth Ave. and West 57th Street.
The event will have live jazz and choral music, holiday-themed refreshments and the first-ever “scent” that will be disseminated from fir trees, the association said.
City Hall is working with the “Future of Fifth” partnership to reimagine Fifth Ave. – with the intention of making it a pedestrian-focused, safer and less traffic-filled area.
The Adams administration and Fifth Avenue Association released a survey for New Yorkers and visitors to help mold the vision of Fifth Ave. The survey is open until February.
“As we get excited for more of the same this December, we’re moving full speed ahead on permanently reimagining Fifth Avenue, so people can have this incredible experience every day of the year,” Adams said.