Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced today a proposal to create a world-class public space and dramatically improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at Grand Army Plaza by connecting the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch to Prospect Park.
The project aims to make it easier to travel around and through the plaza, including by streamlining bus service on one of the busiest routes in Brooklyn, with 27,300 daily riders on the B41 and 5,600 daily riders on the B6.
NYC DOT will finalize the capital project’s design through a series of public workshops beginning on April 23. More information and a community feedback survey will be posted online the day of the workshops at nyc.gov/grandarmyplaza. The survey will be available through Sunday, May 31.
“Grand Army Plaza is the gateway to Brooklyn’s backyard, Prospect Park — and it should welcome New Yorkers with street design that puts safety first,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Anyone who’s tried to cross here knows how dangerous and chaotic the streets can be. This redesign is long overdue and will provide a sense of ease and enjoyment to one of Brooklyn’s most important public spaces.”
“This restoration will breathe new life into one of Brooklyn’s most historic spaces, bringing critical improvements that will make the plaza safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This is a significant step toward building better-designed public spaces with the needs of New Yorkers front and center.”
“Under Mayor Mamdani, we are focused on making our streets the envy of the world — and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn presents a perfect opportunity to do so,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Every time NYC DOT has provided more space to pedestrians at the park, it’s been an instant success, and it becomes impossible to think of how the space could have functioned before. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is an iconic symbol of Brooklyn, and we’re ready to take the next big step to create a public space all of Brooklyn will be proud of and enjoy.”
“Our parks are at their best when they are safe, welcoming and easy for all New Yorkers to get to. This improvement to Grand Army Plaza would give pedestrians and cyclists a safer and more relaxing way to enter Prospect Park and take advantage of all it has to offer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We look forward to working with our partners in the community and across City government to reshape this space for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
Previous workshops held in 2024 showed significant community support for the project with over 85% of the 3,600 survey respondents supporting a project that connects the park and plaza to the Memorial Arch and Bailey Fountain, or “Option B” in the outreach summary chart below.
Once the capital project scope development is completed this year, NYC DOT will explore options for reconstruction that would include reconstructing the roadway to add a host of new pedestrian and cyclist amenities.
NYC DOT will be hosting virtual and in-person public sessions at the dates and locations below:
Thursday, April 23 from 4pm to 6pm: Visit NYC DOT’s tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Grand Lobby of the Brooklyn Public Library. Please use the main entrance.
Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 1pm: Visit tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Civic Commons area of the Brooklyn Public Library. Please use the Flatbush Avenue Entrance.
Wednesday, April 29 from 6pm to 7:30pm on Zoom: Register for the April 29 virtual workshop in advance via Zoom.
“The days of New Yorkers having to navigate a labyrinth of roads and intersections just to get to Prospect Park are finally numbered,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Thanks to Mayor Mamdani and the DOT, Grand Army Plaza will soon function as a world-class gateway to a world-class park, streamlining traffic and delivering much-needed pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements. I encourage Brooklynites to attend the upcoming workshops to learn more about the proposal and help shape the future of one of Brooklyn’s finest gems.”
“Grand Army Plaza has long been one of the most challenging intersections in Brooklyn — a web of roadways that has been unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate for decades,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “This redesign is truly transformative. Connecting Prospect Park to the Plaza will finally give New Yorkers the safe, accessible public space this iconic landmark deserves. I urge every District 39 resident to come out to the upcoming workshops and help shape this vision for our community.”
“The proposal for Grand Army Plaza is an exciting opportunity that prioritizes safety for everyone who uses our streets, and it will require meaningful community input,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “As this process moves forward, I look forward to continuing to hear from the community and ensuring Grand Army Plaza remains a vibrant, accessible public space for everyone.”
“We’re ecstatic that New York City will be connecting Grand Army Plaza’s arch to the rest of Prospect Park,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas. “This is a major step forward for everyone who visits Brooklyn’s backyard, and a restoration of Olmsted’s original vision for his favorite park. Thank you to Mayor Mamdani, Commissioner Flynn and all of the Brooklyn neighbors and TA activists who dedicated themselves to fighting for a safer Grand Army for years. With this proposal, one of Brooklyn’s most confusing and harrowing intersections will transform into a new marquee public space for all to enjoy — on foot, on a bike or on the bus.”
“Grand Army Plaza was always envisioned as the formal entrance to Prospect Park and has served as one of Brooklyn’s premier gathering spaces for the past 150 years,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco. “This project will advance our work in creating safe, inviting and accessible public space and also greatly enhance the plaza’s role as Brooklyn’s ‘town square’ and one of its most democratic spaces.”
Way to go mayor
What will this mean for vehicle traffic? It’s always a mess there, I hope this will help make it better and not worse!
It will make it better for some trafic and worse for others.
I read the whole article and only saw one mention of vehicles (bus, right near the end) and no mention of cars and drivers. 🤔
Wonder if he’s going to ban cars from there.
It’s just switching to two ways at the top of the circle, so cars will still be able to drive through. Most traffic on the roundabout is between EP and Flatbush Ave and the redesign streamlines those connections, so it will probably help traffic going in and out of CH! Not to mention all the Chers who walk to the park and will have a easier time crossing the street.
Because cars are the least efficient use of the space thats why they are giving it the lowest priority
Cars bring you the longest distance in the least amount of time. Time is money.
But pointless.
from the map it seems that if you’re coming from Eastern Parkway it’s going to be difficult to get to the road that goes along. the park doesn’t look like the circle gives you the ability to go around full circle anymore, which is an issue
If you look at the full resolution photo you’ll see that you can still get there. It’s almost the same as before. It shows two turning lanes to get from Eastern parkway and North bound flatbush ave towards prospect Park West (and the west side of Union st)
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/grand-army-plaza-prospect-heights-workshop-boards-jun2024.pdf
Cars are the most freedom-centric form of transport, allowing individuals to go anywhere they please, that is why communists hate them and why they insist on creating severe congestion with bike lanes and other nonsense. Their goal is to make it as difficult as possible for you to drive.
Can’t wait to move to Florida
Stay in New York don’t even think about moving to Florida
You don’t want people who share values of freedom and respect for private property?
that the commenter “We don’t want” shares those values.
Oh yes I want freedom, and I have it You guys got stuck with a antisemitic mayor and the only people who have that problem are you guys. I’m going to be selfish here, we have to put up with all of you guys for pesach, we have to put up with all of you guys for sukkos and dont forget the summer. You people come with a nasty attitude and we’ve had enough of you guys. So about freedom, I love it and I have it. As for you people, too bad so sad move to somewhere else for… Read more »
You people take over everything with your stuck up spoiled attitude.
reality check – the world doesn’t revolve around New York
We have enough freedom people and believe me my private property is better without New Yorkers taking it over
I think they don’t want more New Yorkers in Florida. There are 48 other states to choose from. Please pick somewhere else to move or leave the attitude in NY and come with positivity, thanks. We don’t need more drama down here.
100%. Every time I see a New York tourist they are always the ones who just let their kids run around like someone’s supposed to watch them and they just have this snobby attitude like everything is about them and guess what… WAKE UP and realize not everything is about you.
If you want to improve traffic, all the data supports getting bikes out of travel lanes, so cars aren’t stuck behind bikes, and the more alternatives people have to using cars ie adding in bike lanes, making it safer to walk places, the less drivers there are to clog up the streets.
“For sure this Mayor cares about the people” This is only a ploy to make it more difficult for cars to get around. He is pandering to the cyclists. All those who feel that cars should be abolished, should live in tents. After all they can save the planet by not using electricity, running water, gas or any of the convienices of today.
It’s just switching to two ways at the top of the circle, so cars will still be able to drive through. Most traffic on the roundabout is between EP and Flatbush Ave and the redesign streamlines those connections, so it will probably help traffic going in and out of CH! Not to mention all the Chers who walk to the park and yes EVEN bike and will have a easier time crossing the street.
Interesting that he didn’t mention the cost. I guess he used all his funds in the free supermarket
It’s will be huge traffic to go to BR or the city from CH.
I don’t see any point but making it a round bound with exists only.
Now explain me who they actually asked about and how much money 💰 spent?
I’m buying new shoes 🙈🙈🙈
Being that’s it’s such a busy intersection hope it doesn’t cause more chaos than help. How long will this project take. Good luck
Does this mean there will be a longer awkward silence as my date tries to figure out which lane he’s supposed to be in, or a shorter one?
BH
(;-))))=
Going to Manhattan, it won’t be much different from now, on the way back, it might be a little easier.
Any contractors involved? Consultants? Start the investigation there.
Here comes congestion pricing to Brooklyn
Trump: Google – “President Trump has made architectural aesthetics a key part of his second term agenda, explicitly pushing for classical styles in federal buildings and publicly criticizing modernist, specifically “brutalist,” architecture. His approach aims to restore, in his view, a more “beautiful” and traditional aesthetic to American civic buildings.”Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again”: In August 2025, President Trump signed an executive order, “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,” which applies to new federal courthouses, agency headquarters, and public buildings costing over $50 million. The order places classical architecture, inspired by Greek and Roman design, at the center of federal policy.Repudiation… Read more »
How does one end a date early if they can’t go around the Plaza and back to EP
Stop calling in FLAAAAAARDA. Pls pronounce it correctly.
I thought there was a big budget deficit…