NYC Officials Announce Plans For Summer Streets

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City leaders have announced plans for this year's "Summer Streets" program.

For the first three Saturdays in August, the city will close off nearly seven miles, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and Lafayette Street, for family-friendly fun.

Activities include a nearly 300-foot-long water slide, zip lining, biking or just laying out on hammocks.

"There will be art, there will be performances, but there will mainly be a chance for people to walk and enjoy the streets," Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told 1010 WINS.

Last year, officials said nearly 300,000 people participated in "Summer Streets."

The program is now in its ninth year.

The DOT also announced a 60-block stretch of Lower Manhattan will be closed to traffic on Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the new "Shared Streets" program.

"There will be an ability for limited traffic, but it'll mainly also be open for walking, for biking, we're going to have cultural activities, historic activities," Trottenberg said. "It's going to be very, very exciting."

Major avenues including Broadway and Water Street will be open to traffic.

"It's actually going to be a pretty contained area that doesn't generally carry much auto traffic on a Saturday morning in August," Trottenberg said.

Trottenberg is also encouraging New Yorkers check out their "Weekend Walks," which open up streets to walking and activities year round in all five boroughs.

"It gives people a chance to see all kinds of neighborhoods, from Grand Concourse to Bay Ridge," Trottenberg said.

There will be 50 events through October.