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The city Department of Transportation unveiled new designs that would re-envision the surrounding streets in Brooklyn. (Spectrum News NY1)

BROOKLYN

Residents weigh in on potential redesign plans for Grand Army Plaza

Justine Re

Brooklyn

PUBLISHED 5:45 PM ET Jul. 25, 2024PUBLISHED 5:45 PM EDT Jul. 25, 2024

Prospect Park, which spans more than 500 acres nestled in Brooklyn, is where you can find cyclists, walkers and tons of cars outside the park near Grand Army Plaza.

The city Department of Transportation unveiled new designs that would reenvision the surrounding streets at a virtual workshop this month.

What You Need To Know

- The city Department of Transportation held a meeting with community input on a redesign of Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn - People in the neighborhood had mixed feelings on Vanderbilt and Underhill avenues becoming one-way streets - Final designs will be shown to the community in the fall and winter

The city’s priority, shown in renderings, is to expand pedestrian areas. One priority would create the most walking space by turning a block of St. John’s Place into a pedestrian plaza.

It got positive feedback from the community at the meeting.

“I walk to work. I get my steps in. I feel good when I get to work,” Karen Miller, a Park Slope resident, said.

“I would love it to be more pedestrian friendly, but I feel like the drivers would get so pissed off at us,” Rachel Wong, a resident in the area, said as she took a break from her remote job.

The other idea would raise intersections and curbs, narrow roadways between Prospect Park and the Memorial Arch and add protected bike lanes.

Vehicular traffic is also a key factor in the consideration of the designs.

The Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Avenue connection accounts for most of the traffic in the circle, a DOT spokesperson said during the meeting.

Some people NY1 spoke with said they were concerned that prioritizing pedestrian areas could make it harder for local businesses and residents.

“If you are going to take streets to convert them into pedestrian, while it is great for pedestrians, it might impede on those who are making deliveries and drivers and how it will affect the traffic pattern,” Edan Saltz, who lives in Downtown Brooklyn, said.

The meeting also introduced ideas for making some streets one-way — including Vanderbilt and Underhill avenues.

People who spoke with NY1 said they have mixed views on this.

“I saw what happened in Manhattan in terms of converting the streets to one-way, that’s actually a wonderful idea,” Saltz said.

Meanwhile, a woman who lives in the area thought the idea of Vanderbilt Avenue being one-way would be “bizarre.”

In a statement, the DOT wrote, “This work builds on the tremendous success of recent pedestrian and cycling upgrades DOT has made to the area and could help better organize the iconic space for New Yorkers.”

The department plans to present final concepts to the community later this year during the fall and winter. At that point, the agency says it will look to identify a strategy to secure funding for the redesign.

Residents weigh in on potential redesign plans for Grand Army Plaza

What You Need To Know

- The city Department of Transportation held a meeting with community input on a redesign of Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn - People in the neighborhood had mixed feelings on Vanderbilt and Underhill avenues becoming one-way streets - Final designs will be shown to the community in the fall and winter

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