NYC DOT will work with selected not-for-profit organizations to create neighborhood plazas throughout the City. We will do this by transforming underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces. This 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.

The NYC Plaza Program will re-invent New York City's public realm. In New York City, the public right of way comprises 64 square miles of land-that is enough space to fit about 50 Central Parks. The Program will re-claim streets at appropriate locations to make new plazas. Sites will be selected based on the following criteria: Open Space, Community Initiative, Site Context, Organizational & Maintenance Capacity, and Income Eligibility. Eligible not-for-profit organizations can propose new plaza sites for their neighborhoods through a competitive application process. The City will prioritize sites that are in neighborhoods that lack open space, and will look to partner with community groups that commit to operate, maintain, and manage these spaces so they are vibrant pedestrian plazas.

Applicants must be:

• Nonprofit organizations operating in any of the five boroughs of 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); and
• Located near the geographical target area of the proposed plaza

• Design & Construction. NYCDOT will fund the design and construction of the plaza. Design will strive to create environmentally friendly public plazas that are appropriate to neighborhood context. Possible amenities may include tables and seating, trees and plants, lighting, public art, and drinking fountains.
  
• Site Inspection. 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.
  

• 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 will be outlined in the agreement but may include daily sweeping and bagging of rubbish, watering of plants, removal of stickers and graffiti from street furniture and property, and shoveling snow from pathways. To become the formal partner for the plazas, DOT and the nonprofit must apply to the Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) for authorization to enter into a "Master Concession Agreement" (Agreement). This Agreement would give the nonprofit partner the potential 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. In addition to maintaining the site clean, safe, and in good repair, the nonprofit partner will also be required to provide appropriate insurance on the plaza, as outlined in the Master Concession Agreement.
• Outreach. Outreach 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.
• 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. It would be expected that programmed activities take place at least four times per year.
• 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.

In addition to creating new public spaces, the NYC Plaza Program will strengthen the capacity of local not-for-profit organizations to help them become long-term plaza partners. To ensure local participation, we are partnering with community-based organizations.

Through public visioning workshops, NYCDOT and partners will develop a conceptual design that will be appropriate to the context and individuality of the neighborhood. A professional team of landscape architects will then base their plans on the conceptual design. Partners will be involved throughout the design process. Together, we will design plazas to be safe, attractive, comfortable and social public spaces. Once plazas are built, Partners will be responsible for regular maintenance, management, and programming of the plazas so they remain not only clean, safe, and attractive but also successful, active and well-used public spaces.

For round two of the NYC Plaza Program, NYCDOT will fund up to four (4) projects.

The benchmark that represents an area well served by park space in New York City is 2.5 acres per thousand people. For playgrounds it is 1,250 children per playground Nevertheless, many New Yorkers live in neighborhoods that have an open space ratio of less than 1.5 acres per thousand. For example, residents in East Flatbush have access to a total of 4.8 acres of open space, or 0.09 acres per thousand people; and the neighborhood's 12,000 children share only three playgrounds. More than half the population of East Flatbush lives farther than a quarter-mile from publicly available open space.

The NYC Plaza Program is prioritizing new plazas in communities that lack sufficient open space.

If you have questions, you may contact the NYC Plaza Program at plazas@dot.nyc.gov.

If you would like to tell others about this program, download the informational postcard to e-mail to interested parties.