Central Park Drives Get A Makeover: Safety Study Set To Sail

Today the Central Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), and NYC Parks released the Central Park Drives Safety and Circulation Study.

The year-long report outlines 14 community-informed recommendations to improve safety and mobility on the Drives, the six-mile loop road at the center of the Park. The year-long study, conducted by Sam Schwartz Engineering and commissioned by the Central Park Conservancy, is deeply informed by Park user’s experiences. This includes a survey that received more than 10,000 responses, numerous public meetings, presentations to all seven Community Boards that border the Park, and stakeholder discussions. The study builds upon a previous initiative by the Prospect Park Alliance aimed at enhancing safety and access along the Prospect Park Drives. 

As part of the process, the Conservancy will undertake a study of every crossing in the Park to develop design interventions at each one. NYC DOT has committed to repaving and restriping the Drives starting in the summer 2025 with design recommendations intended to better reflect today’s myriad users. Near-term measures will include: 

• Allocating space consistently across the Drives for different user groups and piloting the use of new colors and textures on the roadbed to more clearly delineate an inner pedestrian lane. 
• Separating pedestrians better from cyclists and other higher-speed users. 
• Undertaking an analysis of every crosswalk in the Park to determine the appropriate design interventions for each one. 
• Directing pedestrians better to the historic archways to reduce conflicts on the Drives. 
• Increasing educational outreach and targeted enforcement. 
• Collaborating with City agencies to improve bike crossings within the Park, making it easier and safer for bikers to cross the Park from east to west. 

Planned changes in the medium-term will include exploring a protected, below-grade bike lane on the 86th Street transverse road and other transverse roads; replacing outdated vehicular traffic signals with more effective signals aimed explicitly at bikers and pedestrians; and working with City agencies to improve bike infrastructure on all streets surrounding the Park. 

“The community-informed recommendations outlined in the Central Park Drives Study provide a roadmap for increasing safety and mobility for millions of people who use the Drives to exercise, relax, and be with one another,” said Betsy Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy. “I’d like to thank our partners at NYC DOT and NYC Parks & Recreation for working with us on innovative solutions to ensure Central Park remains an accessible, safe, and welcoming respite for everyone.” 

“… Central Park remains an example for the rest of the world.”

“So much can be said about Central Park – it is world-class green space and one of the most popular destinations in the country. It is also a space where New Yorkers run, walk, bike, skate, and roll both for commuting and for exercise,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “It’s important that we make the park safe, vibrant and welcoming to all. Deep thanks to Central Park Conservancy for conducting this important study and ensuring that Central Park remains an example for the rest of the world.” 

“With more visitors per year than Disney World, it is safe to say Central Park is a global destination and one of the most highly utilized spaces in New York City,” said Ya-Ting Liu, Chief Public Realm Officer. “As the demands on it grow, I thank Central Park Conservancy for putting safety first as they prepare and plan for the future, ensuring that Central Park will continue to be a world class park and destination for generations to come.” 

“Turning Central Park’s drives into car-free spaces was a groundbreaking event, allowing the City to reimagine how the park loop can best reflect the needs of parkgoers. These recommendations will update the park’s drives to prioritize pedestrian safety while also better accommodating cyclists and legal e-mobility options—both traveling within the park or through it across Manhattan,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We are pleased to have partnered with the Central Park Conservancy and the Parks Department to develop these recommendations and look forward to discussing them more with New Yorkers in the months to come.” 

“Our parks are vital public spaces where New Yorkers can take in the fresh air and connect with their neighbors, safe from the distraction and danger of car traffic. As more New Yorkers are hopping on their bikes to commute, get exercise, or just have fun, it’s important that we thoughtfully manage our park drives and greenways to keep everyone safe,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We worked closely with the Central Park Conservancy and Department of Transportation to develop these practical recommendations, many of which can also improve safety and comfort at other drives and greenways. This builds on the work done in Prospect Park, in conjunction with the Prospect Park Alliance, to continue working to make sure all of our spaces, and particularly flagship parks like Central Park and Prospect Park, work for the many ways New Yorkers are traveling and using our parks today.” 

“Central Park is one of our city’s most precious treasures …”

“Central Park is one of our city’s most precious treasures, and the recommendations put forward in the Central Park Drives Study will improve the safety and experience for the more than 42 million people visiting the park each year,”said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I am excited to work with the Central Park Conservancy, NYC DOT and NYC Parks, and our community partners to ensure that the future of the Park Drives provide the best possible experience for all users.” 

“The Central Park Conservancy deserves a great deal of credit for initiating this study—it’s a big step in the right direction and I am grateful for their thoughtful approach that draws on both data and personal experiences,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “Shared use of the park and its amenities is essential, and so is safety. I know we will find the right balance of recreation and mobility for the drives.” 

“Safety and security in Central Park are paramount to the work we do every single day, and we look forward to working with the Central Park Conservancy and government partners in implementing these creative recommendations to create a safer experience on the Drives for the public,” Captain Magliente, Central Park Precinct Commanding Officer. “Officers in Central Park are ready to play an important role in keeping this beloved green space accessible and safe for its millions of users.” 

“Regional Plan Association (RPA) applauds the recommendations developed from the Central Park Drives and Safety Circulation Study,” said Tiffany-Ann Taylor, VP for Transportation at RPA. “Prioritizing safe and accessible pedestrian space while accommodating cyclists and other forms of micromobility is essential for all visitors. Whether users are exercising, leisurely enjoying the park, or taking a scenic shortcut on their commute, anyone exploring this iconic landscape deserves to do so with as little anxiety about their safety as possible. Having already banned cars from the drives in 2018, Central Park joined the list of global landmarks in New York City that have been adapted to prioritize people over vehicles. The pedestrian plazas in Times Square and the dedicated bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge are terrific examples of how communities can keep the cultural identity of famous landmarks intact while making way for safer ways to enjoy them. Once implemented, these improvements reinforce the City’s strong commitment as a global leader in inclusive public space design.” 

The drives are comprised of the six-mile loop road inside of Central Park. Since the banning of cars in 2018, and in part due to the COVID pandemic, the drives have experienced unprecedented use at all times of day by pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, the increasingly popular electric modes of transportation, caregivers, school groups, bird enthusiasts, and many more. The report’s recommendations, outlined below, seek to address the needs of a changing population and its usage of the Park. 

Near-term Recommendations 

1. Allocate space consistently across the Drives and pilot the use of new colors and textures on the roadbed. 
2. Better separate pedestrians from cyclists and other higher-speed users. 
3. Develop a Crosswalk Toolkit and undertake an analysis of every crosswalk in the Park. 
4. Direct pedestrians to the historic archways to reduce conflicts on the Drives. 
5. Increase educational outreach and targeted enforcement. 
6. Collaborate with City agencies to improve bike infrastructure through the Park. 

Medium-term Recommendations 

7. Remove vehicular traffic signals and replace them with more effective signals and crosswalks. 
8. Collaborate with City agencies to install or improve bike lanes on all streets and avenues surrounding the Park. 
9. Explore a robust bike lane capital improvement on the 86th Street transverse and examine the feasibility of other transverses for bike lanes. 
10. Investigate extensions of the parallel pedestrian path network to reduce crowding and conflicts in the busiest part of the Park. 
11. Develop tailored redesigns for several conflict hot spots. 
12. Establish a Pedicab Reform Working Group. 

Longer-term Recommendations 

13. Explore a raised pedestrian lane at the southern, most crowded section of the Park. 
14. Explore geometric changes at selected locations along the Drives. 

The public can review the Central Park Drives Safety & Circulation Study here. 

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