Dozens of streets across the five boroughs will transform into public pedestrian plazas for Earth Day on the last Saturday of April.<\/p>\n
The annual Car-Free Earth Day, hosted by the city\u2019s Department of Transportation, will close select streets to car traffic on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Each location will feature free activities and programming focused on climate change and sustainability, according to the DOT. Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said it\u2019s a reminder that streets play a critical role in the fight against climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransportation is the second biggest source of carbon emissions in New York City, and finding ways to make clean transportation options quicker, easier, and more affordable is key,\u201d Flynn said in a statement. \u201cWe encourage all New Yorkers to come out to enjoy temporary public art, programming, music, and other activities at dozens of car-free streets around New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event was first launched in 2016 and originally only took place in Manhattan. It has since expanded to all five boroughs, connecting Open Streets and plazas across more than 1,000 miles of bike lanes. City agencies and community organizations will offer environmental programming to promote climate change education and activism along the routes. The DOT is also partnering with local artists who will perform at car-free locations.<\/p>\n
There will also be art by New York-based visual artists creating environmentally focused temporary works through the NYC DOT Art program, including Frahydel Falczuk. Falczuk\u2019s large-scale installation, \u201cThe Plastic Sea,\u201d will \u201cevoke the sensation of being submerged in a \u2018sea of plastic,\u2019 as a commentary on waste and consumption,\u201d according to the DOT.<\/p>\n