Open Plans Awards Five Exception People, Projects at Third Annual Public Space Awards
Council Members Join Open Plans to Toast Public Space
at Third Annual Fundraiser
Five people, projects awarded for their impact on public realm in 2025
New York, NY – Nearly 150 New Yorkers—including Council Members Shahana Hanif, Lincoln Restler, and Shekar Krishnan, community leaders, and business owners—gathered Thursday evening at Brooklyn Winery to celebrate Open Plans’ Third Annual Public Space Awards. The event honors New Yorkers who have made an extraordinary impact on the public realm and directly supports Open Plans’ citywide campaigns to support and expand Open Streets, Summer Streets, school streets, curbside dining, public space management, and more.
“Every year, the energy in the room is palpable,” said Lisa Orman, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans. “The awards feel like a miniature version of what makes New York City so special – the vibrancy, the diversity, the can-do spirit. It’s a joy to honor these esteemed New Yorkers and to know that the proceeds from this beautiful event go right back into Open Plans’ work supporting them and people-centered public spaces around the city.”
The event honored five awardees, including a People’s Choice poll winner, in recognition of their leadership and impact in the public realm.
I.S. 528 Bea Fuller Rodgers School, Most Inspiring School Street, for the creation of car-free street space for the school’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grade which is used for outdoor ecological education, dance, and play.
Rosa Chang, Community Advocate Award, for her success opening Gotham Park in a long-dormant slice of downtown Manhattan, creating a vibrant space for the surrounding downtown and Chinatown communities.
Christine Berthet, City Visionary Award, for her long legacy of catalyzing change to New York’s streets, including co-founding the pedestrian advocacy group CHEKPEDS, creating crashmapper.org, and being instrumental in creating New York’s first-ever protected bike lane and a major redesign of 9th Avenue.
Avenue C Plaza (Kensington), Creativity and Care Award, honoring the community-led effort to create a multilingual, multigenerational gathering place for cultural life in Kensington. The stewardship model is grounded in grassroots networks of arts, culture, and mutual aid organizations.
Three people’s choice nominees for Best Public Space Activator:
The Downtown Jamaica Partnership for managing the 165th Street Open Street and pedestrian plazas while bringing art installations, youth services, and farmer’s and holiday markets to the area.
31st Avenue Open Street Collective, for the work of nearly 100 neighbors who manage the Astoria Open Street as well as street cleanups, murals, public seating, block parties, and a larger visioning for 31st Avenue as a bike boulevard.
Sunset Park Business Improvement District, for supporting over 600 businesses within an iconic immigrant enclave bursting with small eateries, local shops, beloved retailers and community centers.
The evening featured live music by Brooklyn-based performer Patty Irwin, who leads a community chorus in her home borough, and her band. Flowers were provided to each honoree by Fell Flowers, which operates out of Sycamore Bar in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.
This year’s awards sponsors were Tishman Speyer, Adam White Law, T.Y.Lin, Lime, Central Park Conservancy, and Related. Support for the annual event will empower Open Plans to make a lasting impact on the city by connecting directly with communities, schools, and small businesses who want to create a more vibrant and dynamic public realm.
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