Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2025
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
NYC DOT Announces Plans for Trick-or-Streets 2025, Cuts Ribbon at New Plaza in Long Island City
Fourth Annual ‘Trick-or-Streets’ Event Will Feature a Record 137 Events and Counting, Planned in All Five Boroughs Throughout October
New Plaza Transforms 17,000 Square Feet of Roadway Into Bustling Community Hub With Seating, Programming, and One of New York City’s Largest Asphalt Murals
New Yorkers gather at a ’Trick-or-Streets’ event on Decatur Avenue in The Bronx
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the city’s annual Halloween celebration, Trick-or-Streets, will return for a fourth year on Open Streets, pedestrian plazas, and other corridors throughout the city this October, with a record high 137 car-free events and counting planned through the month. NYC DOT announced the plans as it cut the ribbon on a new pedestrian plaza at LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), bringing 17,390 square feet of new pedestrian space to Long Island City, Queens. In partnership with LAGCC, the 29th Street Plaza, as part of the ‘LaGuardia Community Greenway’ initiative, between Skillman Avenue and 47th Avenue, has transformed an underutilized street into a vibrant, social, public space for students and community members to enjoy. Public plazas not only enhance safety, walkability, and access to public transit, they provide space for community, commerce, and culture through public programming. 29th Street Plaza, along with more than 137 additional locations and counting, will host Halloween and harvest-themed events beginning on Friday, October 17 and continuing through Friday, October 31 for New Yorkers from all corners of the city.
“Throughout the month of October, NYC DOT’s fourth annual Trick-or-Streets program will bring seasonal events to plazas and Open Streets, just like 29th Street Plaza, to bring joy, culture, and greater safety for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to celebrate the Halloween season,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Building on years of successful Open Street activations in partnership with LaGuardia Community College, 29th Street Plaza is a testament to what can be accomplished when we rethink how our streets can enrich our communities and make city life even better for all.”
“The street mural has transformed 29th street into a lively, welcoming space for the community to gather, socialize, and relax. We look forward to bringing diverse events and activities while creating new commerce and cultural programming opportunities for New Yorkers,” said Kenneth Adams, president of LaGuardia Community College. “We congratulate our Fine Arts student, Fernanda Contreras, whose mural design ‘Keep it Movin!!’ was selected as the winner of the community-wide contest. We are grateful to Council Member Julie Won and the NYC Department of Transportation for their support of the LaGuardia Community Greenway, and to the Long Island City Partnership for their steadfast advocacy.”
29th Street Plaza features one of New York City’s largest asphalt murals currently on display.
Trick-or-Streets 2025
Trick-or-Streets returns for a fourth season in 2025! NYC DOT partners with Open Streets, plazas, and other corridors in October and on Halloween to add pedestrian space during one of the busiest nights of the year. This year, Trick-or-Streets will be a two-week long festival featuring Halloween and harvest-themed events beginning on Friday, October 17, and continuing through Friday, October 31. NYC DOT will host car-free events for all ages and abilities across all five boroughs. Programming will include live music, fun activities, interactive performances, and more.
In addition to Trick-or-Streets, Día de Muertos is an annual event hosted by NYC DOT and the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs (MOIA). As part of NYC DOT’s Open Streets program, this event is one of many taking place in the fall as part of the agency’s Trick-or-Streets celebration. NYC coordinates with local partners and other city agencies to make car-free spaces possible. Thanks to the NYC Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO), NYPD, and so many others.
A full list of Trick-or-Streets events is available online.
29th Street Plaza
Pedestrian plazas not only enhance safety, walkability, and access to public transit, they provide space for community, commerce, and culture through public programming. Since the start of the Adams administration, NYC DOT has created a record amount of pedestrianized space—more than 1.5 million square feet – through the creation of new plazas, wider sidewalks, pedestrian islands, and more.
LAGCC’s ‘LaGuardia Community Greenway’ initiative on 29th Street began as an Open Street in 2022, when LAGCC began piloting the location as pop-up space for outdoor programming. Now, after three years of Open Streets, student events, programming events, activities, and community outreach, NYC DOT and LaGuardia Community College have transformed 29th Street from Skillman Avenue to 47th Avenue into western Queen’s newest pedestrian plaza. Tables and chairs allow pedestrians to stop and rest; bike corrals provide spaces for students and community members to park bikes; and a new plaza provides more spaces for community programming and events.
29th Street Plaza features one of New York City’s largest asphalt murals currently on display.
The plaza features a block-long mural designed by Fernanda Contreras, a fine Arts student at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY. Contrera’s winning design features colorful walking signals, symbolizing New York’s walkability and the five subway lines—7, G, E, F, and R/N/W—that run through Long Island City. The asphalt mural, one of the largest currently on display in New York City, was painted through a collaborative effort from NYC DOT and LAGCC through NYC Art Partners with the help of volunteer members of the LAGCC student body and faculty.
The ribbon cutting for 29th Street Plaza featured a musical performance by Honk Family Band and a dance performance by Ayazamana Ecuadorian Dance Group, part of the Ecuadorian American Cultural Center in Long Island City, presented in partnership with Queensboro Dance Festival.
The plaza is the latest Open Street NYC DOT has transformed with permanent bike and pedestrian-centered upgrades. The agency has also delivered permanent upgrades to Berry Street and Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn; 31st Street, 34th Avenue, and 39th Avenue, in Queens; 103 Street and Broadway, in Manhattan; and Jennings Street, in the Bronx. More information about the Plaza Program is available online.
“There is nothing more important than the safety of our students, and that includes their safety in front of their school — not just inside out. I'm grateful to the DOT for its partnership in building this new pedestrian plaza outside LaGuardia Community College for the entire neighborhood, beyond just our students, to enjoy,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Perfect timing, as well, as we launch this year's Trick-or-Streets initiative and ensure that there's nothing tricky for families to worry about on our roads this Halloween.”
“When we dedicate more of our streets to people instead of cars, we make room for creativity and community,” said Assemblymember Claire Valdez. “The new 29th Street Plaza at LaGuardia Community College will transform an underused space into one where education, art, and our diverse experiences come together. It will reflect and celebrate the very best of our city.”
“The new 29th Street Plaza transforms an underused road into 17,390 square feet of vibrant public space for the LaGuardia Community,” said Councilmember Julie Won. “Students and community members will get to enjoy ‘Trick-or-Streets’ and Día de los Muertos, along with other year-long programming thanks to DOT, LaGuardia Community College, and advocates who tirelessly fought for this open space to be a reality.”
“The Long Island City Partnership is excited to celebrate the completion of the 29th Street Plaza. Our organization expanded the BID this year, adding supplemental services to better serve the diverse needs of stakeholders around LaGuardia Community College. 29th street is a crucial connector of Long Island City, and this vibrant mural, plaza and open street will bring a much more welcoming streetscape, encouraging students and visitors to explore the great businesses in the area,” said Laura Rothrock, president, Long Island City Partnership. “We look forward to continuing to work with LaGuardia Community College in making this neighborhood an exceptional place to learn, visit and work.”
“As a former LaGuardia student, longtime Queens resident, and chair of Community Board 2, I could not be prouder to see this new plaza at the heart of our neighborhood,” said Anatole Ashraf, Chair of Queens CB2. “LaGuardia has always been a gateway for immigrant families—just as over half of Queens’ residents were born abroad, the college embodies the promise of opportunity and community. This new space is not only a celebration of culture and connection, but also a real investment in safer streets and walkability for everyone who lives, learns, and works here.”
“Queensboro Dance Festival is thrilled to be a public programming partner. It is exciting and also critical to see new open spaces in our home neighborhood that reflect our community,” said Karesia Batan, Founding Executive Director Queensboro Dance Festival. “We are proud to celebrate 29th Street Plaza with local dance and music!"
“We’re excited to partner again with NYC DOT to transform plazas and corridors into festive Halloween hubs for a second year, said Jessica Chornesky, executive director of NYC Kidsfest. “With pumpkin patches, music, arts & crafts, and spooky surprises, these events offer fun for all ages and abilities in a safe, inclusive space.”
“Halloween is a special day when New York City kids should feel excited, happy, and safe on the street, out with friends, family, and neighbors. And Open Streets are a beautiful way to bring that vision to life in a busy city. Street Lab will be out on the Franklin Avenue Open Street in Brooklyn this Halloween season, and also supporting other Trick-or-Streets events during October,” said Leslie Davol, co-founder/executive director of Street Lab. “We’re excited to be partnering with community groups and NYC DOT to celebrate Halloween and support new Open Streets in neighborhoods across the city.”
“The C.O.R.E Family Enrichment Center, is ecstatic for being selected as the signature block for the Trick-or-Street celebration, after completing our first successful summer Open Street on Manor Ave, said Norma Saunders, program director for The C.O.R.E Family Enrichment Center. “It's all about community, creativity, and celebrating the magic of coming together, one street at a time.”
“We’re thrilled to bring our community vibrant programming that celebrates the transformation of New York’s public realm. Thanks to the Department of Transportation’s bold vision for Open Streets and pedestrian plazas, we are reimagining how our city moves, gathers, and celebrates together, said William Jourdain, executive director of Woodside on the Move. “Truly, we're finally catching up to the rest of the world! Initiatives like ‘Trick or Streets’ are more than just events, they’re moments that showcase how joyful, safe, and inviting our shared spaces can be. Public Hive has been an incredible partner in making this celebration not only possible but truly welcoming and fun for all.”
“Orisha Wholeness, a nonprofit who has been providing free fitness and wellness programming to the community, is honored to be selected as a partner in this year’s NYC DOT Bronx Signature Trick-or-Streets event! We’ve proudly partnered with NYC DOT for many years, to bring programming that is inclusive, fun, and designed to get people up and moving,” said Shelly Wilson, vice president, Board Chair, & treasurer for Orisha Wholeness Corp. “This Halloween, alongside our partner The C.O.R.E, we’re transforming the space into a safe, welcoming haven where all ages can dance, play games, and even pick up a new skill or two.”
“The first season of Franklin Avenue Open Streets has been an incredible success, creating a welcoming and vibrant space for our Crown Heights community. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated partnership and support of the NYC Department of Transportation, the 77th Police Precinct, and our local community members. We are proud to join DOT’s Trick-or-Streets initiative this year, which builds on that success by transforming our streets into safe, engaging, and inclusive public spaces for all ages,” said Gregory Anderson, president & CEO of Bridge Street Development Corporation. “Together with the Franklin Avenue Merchants Association, we look forward to celebrating with our neighbors and ensuring this program continues to grow even bigger and better in the years ahead.”
“The Trick-or-Streets program is a great example of the ways that we all rely on our neighborhood leaders to make our lives more connected, resilient and fun,” said Michael Hickey, chief of strategy and operations at Citizens NYC. “CitizensNYC has been supporting leaders like these for 50 years, and we're proud to partner with the New York City Department of Transportation to make this year's program even more special.”
“Bringing NYC DOT’s citywide festival, ‘Trick-or-Streets,’ to Harlem Lane: Saint Nicholas Avenue Open Streets is more than a celebration; it affirms our community’s heritage and vitality, said Gregory C. Baggett, thought leader at Harlem Lane: Saint Nicholas Avenue Open Streets. “In partnership with Broadway for Arts Education, we are transforming our neighborhood streets into stages where safety, joy, and artistic expression come together. With guidance from professional arts educators, families will immerse themselves in creativity, joy, and discovery, creating memories that last long after the festivities have ended. This signature event isn’t just about reclaiming streets; it’s about reconnecting people and reimagining what’s possible in the public realm.”
“Broadway for Arts Education is thrilled to be returning for our fourth Trick-or-Streets Open Streets Activation with the Department of Transportation. We are excited to be extending the magic of Broadway beyond the theater district and into the streets and communities of central Harlem,” said Benjamin Houghton, Cofounder/Executive Director of Broadway for Arts Education. “Whether or not you love live entertainment, carnival games, arts and crafts, candy, or spooky thrills, there will be something for everyone to enjoy!”
“We’re excited to bring Harvest with The Hort to Trick-or-Streets for the fourth year in a row, continuing our collaboration with DOT on this much-loved event. Trick-or-Streets is a hallmark of fall in New York, offering families a safe, joyful, and community-centered way to celebrate Halloween,” said Sara Hobel, executive director, The Hort. “This year, Harvest with The Hort returns to multiple Open Street locations with festive spooky, fall-themed signature activities, including a pumpkin patch and hay bale photo booths, a free pumpkin giveaway with decorating, and plant-themed stations with seasonal stickers and tattoos—all designed for community members of all ages! Thank you to Commissioner Rodriguez, the DOT team, and all community partners for their continued dedication to connecting New Yorkers through public space. We look forward to another memorable Trick-or-Streets!”
“Trick or Streets transforms city blocks into spaces of joy, imagination, and community spirit. At Hive Public Space, we believe our streets should be playful, welcoming, and accessible for everyone—and this event is a perfect way to celebrate safely, creatively, and of course, with a little Halloween magic,” said Alexandra Gonzalez, founding principal, Hive Public Space.