Eligibility
Priorities
Applying
List of Plazas
Frequently Asked Questions
DOT works with selected not-for-profit organizations to create neighborhood plazas throughout the City to transform underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces. The NYC Plaza Program is a key part of the City's effort to ensure that all New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of quality open space.
Eligible not-for-profit organizations can propose new plaza sites for their neighborhoods through a competitive application process. DOT prioritizes sites that are in neighborhoods that lack open space, and partners with community groups that commit to operate, maintain, and manage these spaces so they are vibrant pedestrian plazas.
Now Accepting Applications
The fifth round of the NYC Plaza Program is open and accepting applications until Friday, July 13, 2012. To learn about the program, please read the guidelines below. Also, consider attending a public information session, one will be held in each borough.
Information Sessions
- Queens: Thursday, April 13 at 3 pm. Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 280
- Manhattan: Friday, April 20 at 10 am. DOT, 55 Water Street, Ground Floor, BID Room
- the Bronx: Wednesday, April 25 at 10 am. DOT Bronx Borough Office, 1400 Williamsbridge Road, First Floor Conference Room
- Staten Island: Wednesday, May 2 at 10 am. Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Conference Room 122
- Brooklyn: Friday, May 4 at 3 pm. DOT Brooklyn Borough Office, 16 Court Street, large conference room
Eligibility
The NYC Plaza Program is open to all nonprofit organizations in any area of the City.
Applicants must be:
- Nonprofit organizations operating in New York City
- Incorporated in New York State and compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements for nonprofit organizations
- Certified tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501 (c)
- Located near the proposed plaza
Responsibilities
If your site is selected, DOT will fund the design and construction of the plaza. With community input through public visioning workshops, DOT assists partners in developing a conceptual design appropriate to the neighborhood. A professional team of landscape architects then bases their plans on the conceptual design. Partners are involved throughout the design process. Possible amenities may include tables and seating, trees and plants, lighting, public art, and drinking fountains.
As needed, DOT will monitor and inspect the plazas to assess and confirm that the not-for-profit partner organizations are fulfilling their responsibility as set forth in the Agreement with DOT.
Not-for-profit partner organizations will be responsible for the following:
- Outreach: partners will reach out to the public to gather relevant data and to provide active participation in the public workshops, which may include promotion, surveying, and coordination of participants during visioning workshops.
- Design: A team of professional designers contracted by DOT will be responsible for the design process. Nonprofit partners will be expected to participate in regular design meetings with DOT and the professional designers so that the design is appropriate to the neighborhood context, that it meets local needs, and that plazas are designed with acceptable materials and amenities.
- Funding Plan: Nonprofit partners will develop a funding plan that outlines how the organization will fund and manage the plaza for the long term. To demonstrate that steps are being taken toward the funding plan, the nonprofit partner will provide DOT progress reports. To become the formal partner for the plazas, DOT and the nonprofit must apply to the Franchise and Concession Review Committee for authorization to enter into a "Master Concession Agreement". This agreement gives the nonprofit partner the ability to generate revenue from concessions, limited sponsorship, and public special events. The revenue generated would then be used to manage, maintain and operate the plaza.
- Insurance: nonprofit partners must provide appropriate insurance on the plaza, as outlined in the Master Concession Agreement.
- Maintenance: Before construction is complete, the not-for-profit organization will enter into an agreement with DOT for the maintenance of the plaza so that the site is kept clean and in a state of good repair. The specific maintenance services to be provided may include daily sweeping, watering of plants, removing stickers and graffiti, and shoveling snow.
- Programming & Events: To make the plazas vibrant centers of activity and neighborhood destinations, the nonprofit partner will be responsible for programming activities and events at the site, which may include holiday events, food or craft markets, temporary public art installations or exhibits, and music & dancing. Programmed activities should take place at least four times per year.
Priorities
Applications are reviewed and evaluated according to the City's strategic goals as presented in PlaNYC and site-specific criteria, including:
- Open space: whether or not the neighborhood lacked open space
- Community initiative: the extent to which the applicant had developed a community plan, consensus for the site, and garnered local support
- Site context: the proposed site's relationship to surrounding land uses and businesses, proximity to transit, the presence of significant view corridors or historic sites, and pedestrian activity
- Organizational capacity: the extent to which the applicant is willing and able to program activities, maintain, operate and manage the plaza once it is built
- Income eligibility: applicants received additional points for proposals located in neighborhoods that qualify as low- or moderate-income
Applying
The fifth round of the NYC Plaza Program is now accepting applications. Please read the Guidelines below thoroughly before applying to the program. For questions, please contact plazas@dot.nyc.gov.
Applicants must demonstrate local support for the proposed plaza by providing letters of support from key community stakeholders, such as adjacent properties and businesses, nearby institutions (such as churches or schools), elected officials, other neighborhood property and business owners, other nonprofit groups, and neighborhood or block associations. The involvement of the local Community Board is required. DOT expects at least five letters of support.
Download sample letters of support (pdf)
Any organization interested in applying to the Plaza Program must submit an application to DOT. Please read the guidelines before applying.
Guidelines (pdf)
Application (pdf)
Employee/Board Info (Please use this Microsoft Excel template to provide a list of the organization's employees and Board of Directors, as outlined in the "Existing Organization Capacity" section of the application)
