#Mayor de Blasio announces six more ‘open streets’ for outdoor dining

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Outdoor dining at Negril BK in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Paul Martinka

Six more NYC streets will close to car traffic to make way for outdoor eateries this weekend, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.

The six new locations in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan join 75 streets already participating in the “open streets” dining program, which allows restaurants to set up more outdoor tables than are typically allowed on streets with car traffic.

The new additions include Hoyt Street in Brooklyn between Pacific Street and State Street and Ditmars Boulevard in Queens, along with blocks of West 36th Street, East 28th Street and East 29th Street in Manhattan.

“We’re continuing to reimagine our urban landscape and give small businesses more chance than ever to recoup their losses from COVID-19,” de Blasio said in a statement.

“Restaurants and diners alike have loved this program from the beginning, and we’re proud to expand it even further.”

While “open streets” hours vary by location, the locations announced Friday will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday, the city said.

As with other “open streets” locations, emergency vehicles and bicycles will be permitted to use the roadway.

On Friday, Hizzoner also took a trip on NYC Ferry’s newly-extended Astoria route, which began serving East 90th Street in Manhattan on Aug. 22.

Ferry ridership sunk in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, though city officials have since reported a slight uptick.

The city pays private operator Hornblower $52.95 million per year to provide the service.