Exciting News: Our Expansion Plans Are Moving Forward!
- A Friend @ BNT
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
We have wonderful news to share — and it was wonderful enough that even Streetsblog NYC took notice!
This week, Streetsblog NYC published a feature highlighting the growing momentum behind our expansion plans at Barnett Newman Triangle. The coverage shines a spotlight on what so many of you have been working toward for years: transforming our beloved triangle into a lush, pedestrian-first green space in the heart of Tribeca.
What's Happening
As Streetsblog reported, Tribeca residents and Council Member Chris Marte are rallying to repurpose the approximately 12 parking spots surrounding the triangle and convert them into a vibrant, green pedestrian plaza. Right now, BNT offers little more than a single bench and a patch of pavement. Our vision — and the vision of our entire community — is something far more alive: native plantings, restored greenery, and a true gathering place for the neighborhood.
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have both been engaged in discussions about what's possible here, including short-term improvements like street painting to test out how the expanded space could look and feel. Most excitingly, DOT and DPR have a meeting scheduled for next week to discuss next steps — and we are hopeful that this brings us closer to finally seeing a concrete plan.
Council Member Marte has been a strong champion for making BNT a standalone project, separate from the broader Canal Street redesign effort, so that our triangle gets the focused attention it deserves.
Why This Matters
Barnett Newman Triangle has always been more than a traffic island. Named in honor of the Abstract Expressionist painter who had his studio just steps away at 35 White Street, BNT sits at a historically and culturally significant crossroads of lower Manhattan. As a designated site in the NYC Green Infrastructure Program and a participant in the NYC Pedestrian Plaza Program, our triangle is already recognized by the City as a place worth investing in — a site where pavement can give way to resilience, beauty, and community.
Every tree planted, every native flower that blooms here, is a step toward making downtown Manhattan more livable and green.
Thank You
None of this momentum would be possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers, supporters, board members, and neighbors who have shown up — at community meetings, in letters to agencies, and in the simple act of caring for this little triangle on Sixth Avenue.
We are, as Alice so perfectly put it, on our way to being a true "triangle of gladness."
Stay tuned — we'll share updates as soon as DOT and DPR have a plan to show us. Onwards!
