BY KYLIE VOLAVONGSA
FOREST HILLS On Sunday, September 6, a small portion of Forest Hills’ Austin Street replaced cars and tire marks with kids’ bikes and chalk art.
That was thanks to a new weekly event called Austin Street Open Street, launched by volunteer-led advocacy group Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street (NASAS). The first Open Street took place between 71st Avenue and 71st Road on Sunday, August 30, while September 6’s was this month’s second go.
The event — and NSAS — was three years in the making. Founder Pedro Rodriguez recalls walking down Austin Street in 2022 with his wife, who at the time was pregnant with their son.
“I remember seeing kids walking around and there being a lot of congestion, then having to squeeze between cars. I thought, ‘this is probably not good.’” Rodriguez said.
In 2025, NASAS submitted its first application for an Open Street on Austin but was denied by DOT, which oversees the city’s Open Streets program writ large.
Beyond Forest Hills, NYC DOT’s website lists over 150 official Open Streets across the five boroughs. While the program launched in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s shrinkage of public gathering spaces, it has also been contested for years. In 2023, a dozen New Yorkers filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that the program violates ADA protections. That’s not to mention other popular criticisms of reduced parking and increased traffic.
NASAS eventually secured a one-day permit and held its first iteration of Austin Street Open Street as a one time pop-up. A year later, following a petition and a new application, they secured a permit for four Sundays of Open Street.
And on the afternoon of September 6, children and parents roamed freely with scooters and bicycles, gathering under tents for chalking, finger painting, and knitting lessons. Local-run groups also held backpack and bike helmet giveaways, while the New York Coalition of Transportation safety hosted games teaching street safety.
That all differs from the typical street fair, like the Forest Hills Austin Street Fall Festival that took place a day prior. While the yearly event attracted plenty of vendors, foot traffic, and sales, NASAS’ is in the business of building something a bit more grounded.
“Fairs bring in a lot of people from outside the community,” Rodriguez said. “They’re fun, but it doesn’t build the community here, so our open street allows for small groups to congregate and do things in it — it’s a space for people and local artists that just want to do something they may want to do.”
