Close Encounters of the 34th Avenue Kind: The Story of NYC’s Best Open Street

Event Description 

Close Encounters of the 34th Avenue Kind: The Story of NYC’s Best Open Street tells the story of how a Queens neighborhood transformed a public street into a vital community space.

Created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 34th Avenue Open Street in Jackson Heights and Corona quickly became more than a temporary response to crisis. In one of the hardest-hit communities in New York City, it offered residents a safe place to walk, bike, gather, breathe, and reconnect. As the city emerged from the pandemic, neighbors recognized that this new public space had become essential, especially in a district with limited access to parks and open space.

In his first feature-length documentary, award-winning filmmaker Clarence Eckerson Jr. captures the energy, organizing, debate, and joy behind the creation of what is now Paseo Park: a 1.5-mile promenade for pedestrians, cyclists, families, seniors, and neighbors of all backgrounds. Through interviews with residents, advocates, and community leaders, the film shows how reimagining streets can also reimagine civic life.

The screening will be followed by a talkback with filmmaker Clarence Eckerson Jr. and several of the people who helped make the 34th Avenue Open Street a reality.