Our work at NYC Play Streets
Play streets are a tradition in New York City. They are exactly what they sound like—streets closed to traffic for play, usually during summer when school is closed. For a time, when we first began working at play streets in 2013, the number of play streets seemed to be growing in NYC, thanks to support from the city’s health department and work by Transportation Alternatives. However in recent years, we’ve witnessed the closing of many of the city’s summer play streets in favor of more structured and controlled environments. Others have noted this as well. And just like adults, children appear to be spending more of their free time at home in front of screens. Despite this, we want to continue to support play streets because we believe that city children need space for unstructured, spontaneous, voluntary play.
Photos of our work at NYC Play Streets:
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Uni Reading Room, East Harlem Play Street
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, E104th St, East Harlem, July and August, 2014.
Uni Reading Room, West Harlem Play Street
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, W136th St, West Harlem, July and August, 2014.
Uni Reading Room, Jennings Play Street, Bronx
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, Jennings St, Bronx, NY, July and August, 2014.
Uni Reading Room, Rivera Ave Play Street, Bronx
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, Rivera Ave, Bronx, NY, July and August, 2014.
Uni Reading Room, Irving Play Street, Bronx
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, Irving Street, Brooklyn, NY, July and August, 2014.
Uni Reading Room, Forest Ave Play Street, Bronx
See gallery of photos of Uni reading room, Forest Ave, Bronx, NY, July and August, 2014.
Blog posts about our work at NYC Play Streets:
New Uni Cart brings books to West Harlem Play Street
The Uni went to a West Harlem Play Street/Farmers' Market run by the nonprofit Harvest Home. In 2010, Harvest Home piloted play streets at their farmers' markets in partnership with the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health and Transportation Alternatives with...
Uni provides reading room at East NY farmers’ market
This summer, we tried something new: we left a Uni in someone else's hands. For nearly two months, our new Uni Cart has been a regular presence at a weekly Farmers’ Market and Play Street run by East New York Farms/United Community Centers. East NY was one of...
New directions for the Uni in Jamaica Queens
On July 17, the Uni went to Jamaica, Queens, to create an open-air reading room at a new play street hosted by Dunton Block and Civic Association. Jamaica and nine other deployments are funded in part by Transportation Alternatives as we collaborate to support...
Uni partners with Transportation Alternatives to bring reading to NYC Play Streets
Gather together, play together, read together: the Uni is going to Play Streets! Play Streets are an old tradition in New York City. They are exactly what they sound like—streets closed off to traffic to allow for safe play. Play streets are currently growing in NYC,...