The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is collecting community feedback and ideas to bring about a safer, more sustainable city with increased pedestrian space and other improvements to the public realm. 

This effort builds on the work the BHA has been doing since 2020 to engage and educate our community around public realm issues. Improvements to the public realm are investments in sustainability, public health, and community connectedness and well-being. And, they often go hand-in-hand with a thriving small business community. 

Now is your chance to share how you use our streets and sidewalks and what you would like to see going forward to improve the quality of life, the safety of our streets, and the public spaces in our neighborhood.

Your feedback is invaluable and could impact the future of Brooklyn Heights for residents and visitors for decades to come.

The survey covers Clark Street to State Street and Furman Street to Court Street as well as active and formerly active Opens Streets on Montague, Joralemon, Remsen and Aitken Place. 

Please set aside 10 minutes of your day to complete the survey now. 

Montague Open Streets kicks off the fall season with a Back to School party sponsored by Mommy Poppins x Brooklyn Bridge Parents.  The event runs from 12PM to 4PM with free kids activities, performances and more for ages 0 to 12. There will be games, arts & crafts, soccer, Ninja warrior training, face painting, kids fitness classes, squash, tennis, STEM stations, fencing, mini kids pools (weather permitting) and live performances at:

12:15 - 1PM:  Hopalong Andrew kids concert for ages 0 - 5
1:30 and 2.30PM:  Puppetsburg puppet shows for ages 0 - 5
3 - 3:45PM:  Hype Dance Kids Dance for ages 4 years and up

We will also be introducing the Montague Cocktail Co-Op  - a designated temporary gathering space for adults. Buy food and/or drink from any Montague Street business, grab a spot on one of the picnic benches and enjoy yourself in this outdoor adults-only space (on Montague just east of Henry Street). Bring your friends and meet some new ones! 

Please stop by the BHA table to say hello to our staff and board members. We'll  be on the south side of Montague between Books are Magic and Le Meraviglie Art. It's a great opportunity to learn about what we do and how to get more involved in our community.

REMINDER:  Montague Street from Clinton St to Hicks St will be car-free on Saturday from 10AM-7PM.  If your car is parked on those 2 blocks, please remember to move it by 10AM Saturday so that our community can enjoy the day.

If you are in need of vehicle transportation on Montague Street during those hours, please contact the Montague BID so accommodations can be made.

As you've probably noticed, the turf replacement at Cadman Plaza Park is looking like it's almost ready for a grand re-opening! 

While we don't have an official turf-reveal date yet, we are grateful to CM Restler, NYC Parks and the Cadman Parks Conservancy for spearheading this significant upgrade to our community field. 

The artificial turf has and will continue to be a great space for humans to enjoy.   It is not, and has never been, a space for dogs. Dogs are allowed on the grassy perimeter of the turf during off-leash hours (before 9am and after 9pm), as well as in the oval area at the north end of the park when it reopens in the spring of 2024. The turf is reserved for humans only to ensure it remains clean and in good condition for as long as possible. 

The BHA staff are all dog-owners and and while we love giving our dogs open space to run and play, we know that our furry friends also bring with them potentially harmful bacteria and cause excess wear and tear on a space not designed for their use. 

We ask everyone to be responsible community members, respect the time and money put into this new field, and keep dogs in the appropriate areas at Cadman (or at one of the many local dog parks in the area.) The same is true for playgrounds like Pierrepont & Chapin - they are for little hands, not little paws.

Want to hear more on this topic?  Read today's article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Brooklyn Eagle photo above by Mary Frost