A petition with over 1,600 signatures is sending a clear message to Mayor Eric Adams’ office to support public space initiatives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. 

 

The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council says public spaces, including Underhill Plaza and Vanderbilt Avenue open street spaces, have dealt with pushback from some who fear parking spaces are being compromised due to open street programming. 

 

According to the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, construction on Underhill Avenue Bike Boulevard began in the summer but was stopped before being completed.

 

"The same people who have reached the mayor's office with complaints about loss of parking spaces, are also asking to rollback open streets on Vanderbilt Avenue," said Gib Veconi, who serves as the chair for the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. 

 

"We want to make sure the mayor understands that we are not just talking about paint, and gravel on the ground; These are programs that real organizations have built up around over four years," Veconi said. 

 

Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council urges New Yorkers who value safe streets and the overall health and well-being of their communities to join them in advocating for these initiatives.

 

A spokesperson from the mayor’s office tells News 12 that implementation is ongoing for the Underhill redesign, and nothing has been changed regarding the design or operations of the Vanderbilt Open Street program.