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Public
Space
Awards
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Thank you for joining us for a celebration of public space
On Thursday, February 29th, 2024 (leap day!), the Open Plans community gathered for a festive celebration of the people behind our city’s defining public spaces. From neighborhood-level ingenuity to citywide stewardship, the second annual Public Space Awards cheered the leaders and groups that nurture daily life in New York City’s public forum. It was a wonderful evening of passionate, engaged New Yorkers — we can’t wait to see you at next year’s celebration!
Festive cocktail attire.
*For more information on 2025’s sponsorship opportunities, email events@openplans.org today.
Can’t attend but still want to support? Click here.
2024 Public Space Awardees
Most Innovative Model for Public Space Management
Corona
Plaza
This iconic plaza has come to define itself as a cultural hub and food destination for Queens and the city at-large. Flanked by a variety of shops, eateries, and community centers, Corona Plaza is a gathering place where people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate and share in the cultural heritage of the area.
Together, La Asociación de Vendedores Ambulantes, the Street Vendor Project, and the Queens Economic Development Corporation have demonstrated resilience, collaboration, and tireless organizing to establish a new system for Corona Plaza’s vendors. By coalescing alongside residents, advocates, and elected officials they’ve brought an innovative management strategy to this burgeoning public space; it’s consistently noted on lists of NYC’s best, including the New York Times Top 100 Restaurants list. Their work has shined a spotlight on the Plaza’s inherent promise of community and opportunity
Neighborhood Champion Award
Flatbush Nostrand
Junction BID
This business improvement district, under the leadership of Kenneth Mbonu, has worked with businesses small and large that surround the meeting of Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues. Amid a bustling junction of busy streets, transit options, and nearby Brooklyn College, the BID has led the way by carving out and enriching a vital public space for its neighborhood: Hillel Place Plaza. With art displays, street fairs, and inviting infrastructure improvements, the fully pedestrianized street anchors the surrounding community and promotes walkability for local Brooklynites, students and visitors. Accomplishing all this while caring for street trees and supporting local sanitation efforts, the Flatbush Nostrand Junction BID is a champion for its neighborhood.
Citywide Transformation Award
NYC DOT’s
Summer Streets
Bringing the exuberance of urban life into the streets like only New York City can, the Department’s expansion of Summer Streets to all five boroughs shows both the joyful, present reality and the promising opportunities ahead for our civic life. Under Commissioner Rodriguez’s leadership, the DOT’s weekend transformations of main thoroughfares create sprawling havens for pedestrians, cyclists, fitness and dance classes, sports events, leisure activities, musical celebrations, the list goes on. The commendable scale of Summer Streets has power beyond any given year’s programming. This crowning departmental achievement and community partnership demonstrates year after year that New Yorkers will joyfully fill public spaces in the most wonderful ways.
NYC DOT's Summer Streets
Most Inspiring Neighborhood Vision
Safe Streets Organizers
North Brooklyn
& North Brooklyn
Parks Alliance
Recent years have seen North Brooklyn neighbors and organizations rallying together in droves at an inspiring scale; any one of their complementary efforts could be singled out for local-level transformation. The creation and care of plazas at Banker’s Anchor and Bedford Slip. The organizing work that powers Sharon Street Open Street and champions Berry Street’s lasting, transformative improvements. The steadfast commitment of advocates for a safer McGuinness Boulevard. Together with the support of the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, these leaders are showing all of us the power of collective and cross-collaborative local action, reimagining street-level space in truly visionary ways. As a result, the vision and evolution of the North Brooklyn streets are defined by a sense of safety, community, and togetherness.
Donate $25 or more, and get a fun sticker sheet from your fellow public space lovers at Open Plans.
Spare the cost of a few cups of coffee in honor of your favorite plaza or open street, and we’ll send you a fun vinyl sticker sheet. Show some pride in your city by sticking one on your thermos, laptop, bike, or anywhere else!
All Awards ticket purchasers get one, or you can get yours with a $25+ donation below!
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Get to know 2023's awardees
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Sponsor Event
Generously supported by
And a committee of welcoming hosts
Christine Berthet
KC Rice & Peter Frishauf
Alison Sant
Adam White
*For more information on 2025’s sponsorship opportunities, email events@openplans.org today.