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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2025  
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NYC DOT Celebrates Record-Breaking Four Years of New Pedestrian Space and Public Art; Cuts Ribbon on Audubon Plaza in Washington Heights

City Breaks Record for the Number of Public Art Projects Installed on New York City Streets, With New Mural at Audubon Plaza, Marking More Than 150 Installations Completed Under Mayor Adams
Audubon Plaza Transforms Nearly 11,000 Square Feet of Roadway Into Bustling Community Hub With Seating, Programming, and Asphalt Mural
Agency Releases a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) To Identify Organizations That Can Provide Programming To Enhance NYC DOT's Public Spaces and Events Across All Five Boroughs
The art mural titled 'De Lo Mio,' by artist Talisa Almonte, installed as part of the newly competed the Audubon Plaza in Washington Heights. Photo Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today celebrated a record-breaking four years of new pedestrian space and public art installations on New York City streets at an event to celebrate the completion of Talisa Almonte's asphalt art mural titled De Lo Mio at Audubon Plaza in Washington Heights. Almonte's mural marks a record-high 151 temporary public art projects installed on NYC DOT property. NYC DOT announced this milestone as it cut the ribbon on a new pedestrian plaza on Audubon Avenue, bringing 10,890 square feet of new pedestrian space to Washington Heights. Building on the success of the Audubon Avenue Open Street, the new plaza creates an open space for community use and enhances safety for pedestrians. Public plazas not only promote safety, walkability, and access to public transit, they provide space for community, commerce, and culture through public programming.

NYC DOT also announced it has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify organizations that can provide programming to enhance NYC DOT's public spaces and events across all five boroughs. The agency's Public Realm Programming initiative connects public spaces, such as plazas and Open Streets, with local organizations to positively engage communities with activations to support arts, design, culture, environmental, fitness, active transportation, and education.

"Public art enlivens our shared spaces to be places of connection and joy, and Audubon Plaza stands as testament to the transformative power of Open Streets in celebrating neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, and making our streets safer" said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "I thank Street Lab for their partnership, the Hort for maintaining this vibrant public space, and welcome local organizations to join us as partners in bringing public spaces to life through diverse and engaging programming for all."

150+ Temporary Public Artworks Completed during Adams Administration

Audubon Plaza features an asphalt art mural by Talisa Almonte. The mural, titled De Lo Mio, is a tribute to Dominican culture and the vibrant Dominican community of Washington Heights. Inspired by Liliana Mera Limé's Muñeca Sin Rostro, the mural celebrates the richness and diversity of Dominican people. Plátanos and their sweeping leaves honor the flavors at the heart of Dominican kitchens, while dominoes echo memories of sidewalk games connecting today's neighborhood gatherings with the everyday rhythms of life in the Dominican Republic. De Lo Mio represents the 151st temporary art installation completed during the Adams Administration, a record high since NYC DOT first began its Art program in 2008. These 151 projects include artistic murals, sculptures, lighting, signage on NYC DOT property, as well as interactive installations at signature NYC DOT events like Summer Streets and Car-Free Earth Day. In the past four years, the agency has painted nearly 275,000 square feet of asphalt art and 4,500 linear feet of bike barriers with vibrant murals. Additionally, NYC DOT commissioned five original public artworks for display in each of New York City's five boroughs through the Community Commissions initiative.

City Installs Record Amounts of Pedestrian Space with Audubon Avenue Plaza

Pedestrian plazas not only enhance safety, walkability, and access to public transit, they provide space for community, commerce, and culture through public programming. Since the start of the Adams administration, NYC DOT has created a record amount of pedestrianized space-more than 1.5 million square feet--through the creation of new plazas, wider sidewalks, pedestrian islands, and more.

NYC DOT first completed safety upgrades to Audubon Avenue and 165th Street in summer 2020 to simplify a complex intersection and make it safer and easier for people to cross the intersection. In summer 2024, NYC DOT launched an Open Street at the location in collaboration with Street Lab, with daily maintenance performed by the Horticultural Society of New York. Building on the success of the Open Street, NYC DOT has transformed the block of Audubon Avenue from 165th to 166th Street into Washington Height's newest pedestrian plaza. Tables and chairs allow pedestrians to stop and rest; bike corrals provide spaces for students and community members to park bikes; and the new plaza provides more spaces for community programming and events.

The plaza is the latest Open Street NYC DOT has transformed with permanent bike- and pedestrian-centered upgrades. The agency has also delivered permanent upgrades to Berry Street and Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn; 29th Street, 31st Street, 34th Avenue, and 39th Avenue, in Queens; 103 Street and Broadway, in Manhattan; and Jennings Street, in the Bronx. More information about the Plaza Program is available online.

Public Realm Programming

NYC DOT's Public Realm Programming initiative connects our plazas and Open Streets with local organizations to positively engage communities. Through enriching arts, design, culture, environmental, fitness, active transportation, and educational programming, NYC DOT aims to promote the positive use of public space. With a focus on offering experiences to diverse communities, Public Realm Programming supports neighborhoods in NYC DOT Priority Investment and Public Realm Priority Areas, as identified in the NYC Streets Plan.

Respondents NYC DOT selects from the RFQ will be added to the agency's Public Realm Programming Partner List, granting eligibility for providing programming of various types to NYC DOT's public spaces and events for a two-year period.

The NYC DOT Public Realm team will be hosting two informational webinars for all interested programming partners this December. The agency will be going through applicant requirements, the overall application process and answering questions from prospective applicants. Dates, times, and link to register below:

• Wednesday, December 10 from 6-7:30pm
• Wednesday, December 17 from 2-3:30pm

Applications should be submitted online through the Public Realm Programming 2026-2027 Partner List Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Application. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 30, 2026. For more information visit nyc.gov/DOTprogramming.

Muralist Open Call

The city also invites US-based artists to submit examples of past work to be considered for the chance to create temporary murals across the city. Selected artists will design site-specific artwork that will stay on display for up to 11 months. Projects may take place on a variety of DOT property, including pedestrianized asphalt areas, concrete bike barriers, and other priority areas like bridge walls, step streets, or fences. Interested artist can learn more information through the Request for Qualifications. Muralist Artist Applications are open on Submittable until February 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

"When a city commits to creating space for its people, it chooses dignity, safety, and a future rooted in community. With NYC DOT's investment and Talisa Almonte's vibrant vision rising from the asphalt, Audubon Plaza is more than a traffic-calming intervention-it's a declaration of who Washington Heights is and who we insist on becoming," said New York State Senator Robert Jackson. "This is what it looks like when public art and public policy move together-transforming concrete into connection, and turning streets into spaces where culture, safety, and belonging can thrive."

"After months of dialogue with NYC DOT and community partners, today we stand united in celebrating the creation of Audubon Plaza. This new plaza creates open space for community use, enhances safety for pedestrians, and now paves the way to work with local partners to fill these vital spaces with culture, community, and commerce in the district," said City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa. "We look forward to the beautification of the plaza with artwork that celebrates the vibrant culture of our community Uptown by artist Talisa Almonte."

"We're excited for the community of Washington Heights to have this new plaza and look forward to continuing to help it be well-used and loved by the community for years to come," said Leslie Davol, executive director, Street Lab. "Street Lab has activated the space with programming 30 times since 2024, using a pop-up approach to help residents enjoy the space and share their vision for its future. Now that future is here, in the form of a permanent plaza where neighbors come together-congratulations!"

"I Challenge Myself applauds the effort to create public art installations, especially the De Lo Mio mural at Audubon Plaza in Washington Heights," said Quentin Ball, executive director, I Challenge Myself. "Students in ICM's cycling program at George Washington Educational Campus regularly bike past this plaza and will get to enjoy this mural with such a positive community theme."

"We're thrilled to celebrate the launch of the newly reimagined Audubon Plaza and continue our longstanding collaboration with DOT to create vibrant, welcoming public spaces across the city, illustrating how art, horticulture, and community programming can come together to transform a neighborhood space," said Liza Ehrlich, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Horticultural Society of New York. "Over the past year, The Hort has been proud to support the plaza's installation, plant new trees, care for its horticulture, and provide daily services that help it thrive. Thank you to Commissioner Rodriguez, the DOT Art team, and our community partners for their commitment to building more connected and inspiring public spaces for all New Yorkers."

About NYC DOT Art

The New York City Department of Transportation's Art Program (NYC DOT Art) partners with community-based, nonprofit organizations and professional artists to present temporary public art on NYC DOT property throughout the five boroughs for up to eleven months. Artists transform streets with colorful murals, dynamic projections and eye-catching sculptures. Sidewalks, fences, triangles, medians, bridges, jersey barriers, step streets, public plazas and pedestrianized spaces serve as canvases and foundations for temporary art. Since 2008, NYC DOT Art has produced over 530 temporary artworks citywide. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dotart and @nyc_DOTArt on Instagram.