Downtown Brooklyn Public Realm Action Plan

Since its 2004 rezoning, Downtown Brooklyn has become a mixed-use central business district. Our Downtown Brooklyn Public Realm Plan reimagines its wide, busy streets as pedestrian-first, adding parks and public spaces while creating a cohesive network of safer, more walkable streets with improved wayfinding. The plan introduces the largest shared street district in New York City and supports safer, more efficient movement for cyclists and public transit users.The plan integrates green infrastructure—bioswales, porous surfaces, and over 900 new trees—to address stormwater and heat reduction. Well-lit spaces, street furniture, and public art create inviting environments that support community use day and night.BIG and WXY collaborated with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership to establish a distinct identity for a vibrant, connected district that promotes sustainability and livability while reducing vehicular access and expanding bike lanes.