Street Lab at Audubon Ave

Washington Heights, Manhattan

2024 – Present

Open Streets are a unique opportunity to strengthen neighborhoods and support residents in crowded urban areas. During summer 2024, Street Lab came out twice a week to a new Open Street on Audubon Ave to help establish this new public space for the Washington Heights community. We were joined by artist Mildor Chevalier and the youth arts organization, Iconos Kids, who offered arts activities for children. We also deployed our IMAGINE program so that community members of all ages could share their ideas for a street mural and this new public space. The result was a beautiful, whimsical design by Mildor that Street Lab implemented in November, with volunteers including students from Gregorio Luperon High School, George Washington High School, and City College Spitzer School of Architecture. Thank you to Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez for stopping by to help paint the street! In 2025, we’re activating the space every Wednesday and Saturday in June, helping the community build momentum towards a permanent pedestrian plaza.

 NYC DOT Commissioner Rodriguez has supported Audubon Ave and the Washington Heights community for many years, first as a high school teacher who co-founded Luperon High School just around the corner, and then as a New York City Council member for District 10. 

A child writing/drawing things on a big scroll of paper.
An adult leading an engagement session with children on the street.
Adults and children writing things on the table on a street.

How Street Lab is supporting Audubon Ave

  • Consistent activation and programming (22 days to date)
  • Partnerships with local organizations
  • Community engagement
  • WNYC partnership visit
  • Production of a street mural with volunteers
An adult leading an engagement session with children on the street.
Children playing on a street; a child looking at the camera and smiling.
Audubon Ave between 165th St and 166th St

Audubon Ave between 165th St and 166th St

A community engagement session happening on an street.
Children playing on a street.
Adults and children sitting at a table under a tent on the street.

The Open Street enriches how friends, families, and visitors experience the neighborhood. It’s like a rendezvous for the community. The mural celebrates all the community’s inhabitants, creating a sense of belonging to all interests and backgrounds.

Mildor Chevalier, Artist

Children playing on the street.