Street Lab at Grand Ave

Morris Heights, Bronx

2023 – Present

In early 2024, Bright Leaders Group Family Daycare had a vision to create more outdoor space in the community where their daycare children and kids in the neighborhood could safely play and hang out over the summer. Bright Leaders Group turned to partner with Street Lab to help launch and operate a new NYC DOT Open Street on their block Summer 2024. This Open Street closed the street from cars and opened it up to a world of possibility, with fun programming for the kids and a newly created place for the entire community to gather. Bright Leaders Group and Street Lab are excited to build on this momentum to go even bigger in 2025 and beyond. Stay tuned!

A group of students posing together on the street.

Our Community Partner

Bright Leaders Daycare supports families in the Morris Heights neighborhood, providing childcare services and nurturing environments for children six weeks to 12 years of age.

Children playing on a blue, river-like foam structure on the street.
An adult and a child playing chess on the street.
Mom with a child and another older child writing things on the paper on a wooden table on the street.
A child enjoying a stream of water on the street.
Mom with a child and another older child writing things on the paper on a wooden table on the street.
A child and an adult playing with magnatiles on the street.

How Street Lab supported Grand Ave

  • Planning and permits for new NYC DOT Open Street
  • Consistent activation and programming
  • Community engagement
  • Technical support and capacity building
  • Helping create an Open Streets Admin Team, including students, teachers, and staff
  • Photography, evaluation, documentation
A map showing three NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens) with a dot in the Bronx.

Grand Ave between Burnside Ave to Tremont Ave

Seniors spending time together on the street.
A view of adults and children spending time together on the street.
A wooden chalk board that has "Imagine with Decatur" written on it.

This past summer was a game changer for my community. For the first time in over 15 years, We were able to provide a safe and enjoyable outdoor space for children and members of our community. The highlight of the summer was having parents thank us for bringing back a sense of community through our open street activities.”

Martha Batista
Director, Bright Leaders Daycare

A vibrant view of a street with a wooden reading cart.
People planting on the street.
A view of people spending town on an open street
A child engaging with a wooden board on the street.
An adult and children doing activities on a table on the street.
Adults and kids playing together on the street.

“You guys are elite! It has been nothing but a fruitful, insightful and supportive opportunity to work with Street Lab.”

Elise Banegas
Community School Director, PS 28

People playing games on the street.

Open Streets can temporarily transform streets for the community…

A vibrant view of a street.

Grand Ave is part of Street Lab’s. New Public Spaces initiative.

A collage of blue and yellow photo cards with photo & text.
Children and adults playing with jump rope on the street.