Organizing Block Parties This Summer? Process Made Simple!

NEW YORK CITY’S 3,000 BLOCK PARTIES HAVE A NEW HOME WWW.BLOCKPARTYNYC.ORG offers maps, promotion, how-to guides, financial support

There are more than 3,000 block parties in New York City every summer, and today the New York City Streets Renaissance (NYCSR) launches an interactive website that helps New Yorkers organize and promote their own. BlockPartyNYC.org was developed by The Open Planning Project, and provides block party hosts with:

• Interactive Google Maps where visitors can plot or find block parties in their neighborhood

• Step-by-step guides to getting block party permits, approval and logistics

• Details on each of the 59 community board’s specific block party requirements

• $500 grants awarded to select block parties promoting safer neighborhood streets

• Free webpage and URL to promote each individual block party

The Block Party NYC program is dedicated to helping residents reclaim neighborhood streets from traffic, turning underutilized asphalt into public space for a day.

“Every time a block party is held, New Yorkers see proof that our streets don’t have to be all-car, all the time,” says Lindsey Lusher of the NYC Streets Renaissance. “With Block Party NYC, we’re untangling the Byzantine process so that more and more residents can reclaim their streets one afternoon at a time.”

Last year, Block Party NYC awarded over 30 mini-grants to blocks across the five boroughs. This year’s grant recipients will receive money to fund the party, materials to publicize, and most importantly, the services of an urban planner to help reduce speeding, thru-traffic and pollution.

To find out more about the program or the parties, visit www.blockpartynyc.org.