Brooklyn’s famed Grand Army Plaza could undergo a redesign in an effort to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety in an area that is described as “dangerous” and “chaotic”, city officials announced Monday.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn jointly announced proposed a transformation that would create “world-class public space” by connecting the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch to Prospect Park.
The goal of the proposed upgrade is to ease travel through and around the Plaza, which would also include streamlining bus service for the B41 route, which serves 27,300 riders daily, and the B6 route which serves 5,600 riders dail, according to City officials.
“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,” Mamdani said in a statement. “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.”
NYC DOT will finalize the project design following public workshops beginning on April 23 in the locations below:
- Thursday, April 23 from 4 – 6 p.m.: Visit NYC DOT’s tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza.If it rains, the event will move to the Grand Lobby of the Brooklyn Public Library.
- Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Visit the DOT tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza. it rains, the event will move to the Civic Commons area of the Brooklyn Public Library.
- Wednesday, April 29 from 6pm to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom: Register in advance via Zoom.
Workshops held in 2024 showed community support for the project with over 85% of the 3,600 people surveyed wanting to connect the park and plaza to the Memorial Arch and Bailey Fountain, according to the city.
“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,” Flynn said following Monday’s announcement.
More information and a community feedback survey will be posted online the day of the workshops at nyc.gov/grandarmyplaza and will be available through Sunday, May 31.
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