Presentation of Williamsburg Walks presented to Public Safety Committee of Brooklyn Community Board #1

1. Weekend
Walks 2012
in CB#1
Williamsburg Walks hosted by DOT & NAG
Grand St Weekend Walks hosted by DOT &
Grand Street BID

2. Weekend Walks
• The Walks are temporary pedestrian streets that create great opportunities for New Yorkers to meet, see
their neighborhoods in a new way, and relax on summer weekends.
• This is the 5th year of DOT Weekend Walks programming. The star event is “Summer Streets” which shuts
down Center St, Lafayette, & Park Ave for several Sundays in August. However, the New York City
Department of Transportation also partners with community groups to present Weekend Walks at 19 sites
in all five boroughs from May through October in 2012.
• Local merchants' associations, community groups, and business improvement districts host these
Weekend Walks to provide a fun new way to highlight local businesses and cultural institutions.
• Each event is organized by a local partner with help and guidance from DOT.
• The events are programmed, featuring a number of activities including music, arts and crafts, classes, and
youth programming. The goal is to promote healthy and safe recreation as well as local businesses, and
create high-quality public space where community members can come together.
• Instead of vending, the event will highlight local cultural institutions, non-profits, and economic resources.
• Businesses within the Weekend Walk zone are encouraged to expand their business to the curbline.
• Restaurants abutting Weekend Walks are allowed to offer outdoor café service, without any additional
permits or fees, in zones demarcated with barriers.
– Restaurants can expand to the curbline in front of their establishments.
– Café furniture must not be placed on the sidewalk until the beginning of the set-up time listed on the SAPO permit, and must be removed by
the time the road is re-opened to motor-vehicle traffic.
– Restaurants with two-year DCA café licenses must remove all additional chairs/tables and return to the boundaries listed in their DCA licenses
when the street is reopened to motor-vehicle traffic.
– Restaurants with valid SLA liquor licenses that do not include outdoor seating can offer liquor in their Weekend Walks-only café spaces
without modifications to their licenses.

3. Weekend Walk
Events in CB#1
• Williamsburg Walks on Bedford Ave from
Metropolitan Ave to N12th. 6/9, 6/16/, 6/23
• Grand St Weekend Walks on Grand St from
Lorimer to Graham Ave. 7/14 & 7/21

4. Williamsburg Walks
5th year on Bedford
2008- Billburg/Bedford Cheese Shop
2009 – NAG & L Mag
2010- NAG & L Mag & Project for Public Spaces
2011 – NAG & Northside Merchants
2012 - NAG

5. Dates: Sat June 9th, Sat June 16th, Sat June 23rd
Increase in 1 week from previous year

6. Street Closed to Vehicular traffic from 1pm-930pm

7. Set up from 1pm-3pm

8. Programming from 3pm-8pm

9. Clean-Up from 8-930pm

10. Event is technically Rain or Shine
Although a lot of the “active” programming is dependent on good weather

11. Event is combo of pedestrian plaza, encouraged business/street life, and
programming by local businesses and community groups.

12. NAG takes its inspiration for the event from world class pedestrianized streets
like the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica

13. Businesses are encouraged to take over the sidewalk in front of their business
for cafes or sales or programming

14. Community groups and businesses off Bedford are encouraged
to participate through hosting “programming”

15. To create $$ to offset free programming space for local businesses and
groups, we have some corporate sponsorship opportunities

16. NAG is looking forward to another great year, with
more Bedford business participation, more community
participation, and a week more of fun fun fun!!

17. Grand St Weekend Walks
First year!!
Sat July 14 & Sat July 21
Grand St from Lorimer to Graham Avenue
12-6pm