The Pandemic Gave New York City ‘Open Streets.’ Will They Survive?

34th Avenue in Queens has become the gold standard for an open street that puts people ahead of cars, but critics say it goes too far.

The metal barriers go up every day at 8 a.m. to keep the cars at bay. Then 34th Avenue turns into a 1.3-mile-long block party. It serves as a connector not for vehicles but for people in a space-starved, melting pot neighborhood in Queens. People come out for coffee breaks and stay for free classes in yoga, zumba, salsa and Mexican folk dance. Earlier this summer, a pop-up circus brought clowns, jugglers and acrobats to delight children. Dogs in rainbow-hued outfits and their owners marched together in a pride parade. One couple even got married on the avenue with a state senator officiating.