Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Car-Free Parks

Manhattan Borough Board Unanimously Endorses Car-Free Central Park Trial

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer rallied for a car-free summer in Central Park five years ago, and voted in favor of a similar proposal yesterday. Photo: Transportation Alternatives.

Though Mayor Bloomberg has ruled out the possibility of implementing a car-free Central Park trial this year, opting for further data collection instead, public support for the proposal continues to grow. At a meeting of the Manhattan Borough Board yesterday, the car-free trial picked up support from still more community boards and new City Council members.

The Borough Board consists of every City Council member and representatives from every community board in Manhattan, as well as the borough president. The board was unanimous in its support for a car-free trial. (The full roll call, provided to Streetsblog by car-free park activist Ken Coughlin, is available at the bottom of this post.)

Of Manhattan's 12 community boards, 11 have now voted in support of the plan. The only exception is CB 12, which was absent from yesterday's meeting and had not voted on the proposal previously.

Elected officials, too, voted in favor of the trial. Borough President Scott Stringer, a long-time supporter of such a plan, voted yes. So did Council Members Gale Brewer, who has sponsored legislation to take cars out of both Central and Prospect Parks permanently, and Dan Garodnick, who supported a car-free trial in 2006. Rosie Mendez was the only other council member to vote; she too was in support. As is her practice, Christine Quinn abstained in deference to her citywide duties as council speaker.

No council member has publicly opposed a car-free trial this year.

Here's the full Borough Board roll call:

    • CB 1 - Yes
    • CB 2 - Yes
    • CB 3 - Yes
    • CB 4 - Yes
    • CB 5 - Yes
    • CB 6 - Yes
    • CB 7 - Yes
    • CB 8 - Yes
    • CB 9 - Absent
    • CB 10 - Yes
    • CB 11 - Absent
    • CB 12 - Absent
    • Brewer - Yes
    • Chin - Absent
    • Jackson - Absent
    • Mendez - Yes
    • Rodriguez - Absent
    • Lappin - Absent
    • Garodnick - Yes
    • Dickens - Absent
    • Quinn - Abstain
    • Mark-Viverito - Absent
    • BP Stringer - Yes

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

OPINION: Can Regional Governance Break New York Out of Its Constant State of Transit Emergency?

The New York region needs to fundamentally change the way it governs its transit system, our contributor writes.

December 20, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: ‘So, How Was Your Day?’ Edition

You didn't come here to find out about yesterday's crime news. Instead, here's the livable streets news!

December 20, 2024

Albany Should Use ‘Underutilized’ Transit Fund For LIRR, Metro-North Discounts: Report

An "underutilized" pot of state transportation funds could help lure more New York City residents onto the LIRR and Metro-North, according to a new report.

December 19, 2024

See It: The McGuinness Road Diet Works — But Only Where the City Installed It

The road diet works, exposing the need to extend it all the way.

December 19, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Snow and Tell Edition

The Sanitation Department is even better prepared for winter. Plus other news.

December 19, 2024
See all posts