Where we work

We pop up in streets, plazas, parks and other public spaces across New York City, prioritizing low-income and underserved locations, always by request from community groups and city agencies. Our local partners are business improvement district organizations, development corporations, civic associations, youth development organizations, neighborhood coalitions, and more.

Since 2011, we’ve popped up 2000+ times in 400+ locations, in partnership with over 250+ local groups, engaging more than 100,000 New Yorkers. 81% of this work has been in low- to moderate-income locations. Get in touch to bring us to your neighborhood!

Deployments since 2011. Larger dots = more visits.

Plazas

Open Streets

Markets

Parks

Play Streets

Commercial corridors

NYCHA Public Housing

School Streets

A closer look…

Here are a few examples of the 400+ locations where we’ve worked across the city since 2011.

Jennings St, BX

A view of people reading on an open street. There's a blue barricade in the foreground that reads "POLICE LINE - DO NOT CROSS NYPD"

Jackson Ave, BX

A view of a car-free open street in the Bronx, NYC on Halloween Day.

Louis Niñé Blvd, BX

A boy reading a book on the street, leaning on a white bookshelf tower.

Evelyn Pl, BX

Two children looking at the camera and posing on an open street in NYC. Another child is chalking on the ground, on the left of the two children.

Decatur Ave, BX

A group of children playing on an Open Street in NYC.

Beverley Rd, BK

Two children looking at the camera and posing on an open street in NYC. Another child is chalking on the ground, on the left of the two children.

Beaumont Ave, BX

A photo of children in a straight line facing the camera, with colorful play obstacles in front and school building in the back.

Industry City, BK

A view of children playing in an outdoor area of a food hall.

E 234th St, BX

Chelsea Market, MN

A photograph of people drawing in an indoor marketplace.

New Public Spaces…

Street Lab is working with the NYC Department of Transportation and communities across New York City to create new public spaces in historically underserved areas of the city. To do this, we’re helping grassroots groups, schools, and other community-based organizations pilot and establish new Open Streets in their neighborhood, which provides immediate benefits to the community while also laying the groundwork for permanent changes. Learn more here.

For other cities

We also send kits around the world so that other cities can copy our model. So far, we’ve created more than 60 programming kits for cities and organizations across the globe.