Through its Plaza Program, the New York City Department of Transportation aims to transform "underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces" throughout New York City. To create and run these new public plazas DOT is seeking to partner with local non-profit organizations.

The initiative is "the first community-based planning program that has capital funding attached to it," Sadik-Khan said. DOT has allocated $43.1 million in capital funds over three years (about $14 million per year) for planning, design and construction of the new public spaces. Additionally, Commissioner of Small Business Services Rob Walsh said that his agency has allocated $50,000 per year over three years to pay for the programming and maintenance of plazas in neighborhoods with no business improvement district (BID).

Is your neighborhood eligible? Find out at this info session.