Rendering for one of two proposals for the redesign of Park Avenue.
NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today unveiled design concepts to put the 'park' back in Park Avenue, reimagining a key stretch of Midtown Manhattan as a greener, safer and more people-centered corridor.
The proposed redesign would expand the avenue's median, add pedestrian enhancements, seating and landscaping, and explore potential bike lanes and innovative streetscape amenities. The project area sits directly above the Grand Central Terminal train shed, which is undergoing a major capital rehabilitation by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s Metro-North Railroad.
As the MTA replaces and waterproofs the structure below, the City is advancing a parallel effort to transform the avenue above - aligning infrastructure renewal with a broader vision for public space shaped by community input.
"With this new redesign, we are putting the 'Park' back into Park Avenue and upgrading Midtown Manhattan by providing residents and visitors alike with more usable public space," said Mayor Mamdani. "Our city's public spaces must better serve the public, and my administration has made this a priority through bold infrastructure investments and street redesigns. Working together with our partners across the City and State, we will ensure that New York City's streets are the envy of the world."
"The Park Avenue redesign will make Midtown Manhattan safer, greener and more welcoming for pedestrians," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. "By upgrading the medians and seating, Park Avenue will finally, truly belong to the public. The Mamdani Administration will keep pushing to make our streets safer and more accessible for all New Yorkers."
"Whether you're walking, biking or just looking for a place to sit and take a break, this project is about making Park Avenue work better for you" said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "We're turning underused space into something welcoming, functional and vibrant for the people who live, work and spend time on this iconic street."
The proposal covers 11 blocks from 46th Street to 57th Street. It would remove one travel lane in each direction, allowing medians to expand and accommodate seating, plantings and other pedestrian and cycling amenities. New crosswalks would connect the medians along the corridor.
The design aims to balance the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Potential bike improvements are being studied in coordination with the City's broader bike network. A typical median could include planting areas, a north-south bike lane and a pedestrian pathway.
