During weekends, jazz bands performed on street corners, friends gathered in the middle of the road, children rode their bikes, and diners enjoyed meals at bistro tables on the pavement. The coronavirus outbreak initially confined New Yorkers indoors, but eventually, it led them to venture outside for fresh air, exercise, dining, and relaxation, resulting in a spontaneous transformation of the city's streets throughout its five boroughs. City officials allocated 83 miles of roads for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians, allowed nearly 11,000 restaurants to extend onto sidewalks and streets, and permitted retailers to expand their storefronts. The community embraced the reclaimed space and is hesitant to relinquish it. Mayor Bill de Blasio has commended the initiatives, such as Open Streets, Open Restaurants, and Open Storefronts, as positive developments during a challenging period for the city. Once a skeptic, de Blasio now believes that some of the pandemic-era experiments in New York will become permanent fixtures in the city. The New York Times sought input from people who have utilized Open Streets to determine what changes they would like to see endure. Urban planner and architect Claire Weisz of WXY Studio was also consulted to provide a realistic but ambitious vision for the city's future. Three streets that were part of the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs were highlighted as examples of possibilities for the entire city. While the Open Restaurants program has been made permanent, the future of Open Streets remains uncertain. Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights, 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, and Avenue B on the Lower East Side were selected as representative of different neighborhoods in the city. The vision for Vanderbilt Avenue includes expanding the existing median with curves to slow down traffic and building a performance stage to attract visitors. On Halloween morning, a resident was seen taking photos of her dog on Vanderbilt Avenue, indicating the potential for the street to become a popular destination. Monty had on a denim jacket and a bright pink mohawk. Rosen, 40, felt like she had been transported to another place for a moment. She compared the scene to squares in Europe. Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights became a vibrant gathering spot until Thanksgiving. The street was closed off to cars and transformed by volunteers every Saturday morning. Residents expressed a desire for more benches, clearer bike lanes, and the ability to have a say in the street's future. Some suggested turning Vanderbilt into an events space with a stage for performances. One idea proposed was to extend and expand the median to create a small park with public bathrooms, which are lacking across the city. Medians could serve as loading and unloading areas for deliveries, and new bike lanes could be added next to the median to accommodate fast bicyclists, commuters, and delivery workers, as well as a separate lane for leisurely riders. Copenhagen, a cycling-friendly city in Denmark, has implemented this model with success, featuring nine supercycle highways throughout the city and metropolitan area. In Queens, 34th Avenue could potentially be transformed into a pedestrian promenade by expanding the existing median to include features such as a workout area and gardens, while moving the bike lane away from traffic. Laurie Gold, a resident who frequently walks her dog along 34th Avenue, appreciates the open streets portion and enjoys the bustling atmosphere with people running, walking, or biking day and night. The avenue has become a popular destination for families during the pandemic. Neighbors gather to talk, parents stroll with strollers, and children play with basketballs and bikes. Eight-year-old Ashley Cedeno enjoys games like tag and hide-and-seek on the street. Travers Park, a 2-acre playground surrounded by buildings and schools, serves as a central meeting spot in the area. Some residents wish for more commercial activities like fairs and food trucks, while others desire street festivals. Edwin Cordero, who has lost weight walking his dog, believes there should be more options available on 34th Avenue. According to Weisz, the street has potential for various opportunities. The road measures about 55 feet wide from curb to curb, providing enough space to extend the median to the sidewalk on one side and create a one-way road on the other side. This extension would create a larger area for pedestrians and more greenery. Moving the bike lane next to the sidewalk, rather than between the road and parked cars, would be safer to prevent accidents with opening car doors. Travers Park could be a focal point for adding public bathrooms, vendors, and a workout area. New York could draw inspiration from Tokyo Toilet restrooms in Shibuya, which are architecturally appealing and wheelchair-accessible. Many residents believe that Avenue B near Tompkins Square Park could be made more inviting to pedestrians by converting it into a one-way street, allowing for more greenery and public bathrooms. Residents also suggest adding more trees and plants along the sidewalks and creating a larger playground area for schools by converting Avenue B into a permanent open street. The park is surrounded by fences, with paved entryways and benches along the paths. Trees and shrubs are protected by fencing within the park. Weisz mentioned that the fences were originally put up due to concerns about farm animals entering the park, and later became a security measure in the 1970s. She suggested removing the fences to create a more open and accessible park, similar to those in Barcelona, Spain. Making Avenue B a one-way street with car-free areas could also improve safety and allow for additional amenities like public bathrooms. Weisz commented that Avenue B would be improved by the addition of bike lanes and designated spaces for deliveries, creating a shared street environment.