School Streets: Inside NYC's Movement to Reclaim Urban Spaces

In Part 1 of this S5E36 two-part Schoolutions conversation, urban planner and organizer Sabina Sethi Unni from @openplansnyc breaks down New York City's School Streets program. It's a DOT initiative that closes car traffic in front of schools during school hours to create outdoor space for kids who need it most. Consider the possibilities...what if the street outside your school could become a gym, a science fair, or a Halloween parade all before 3 PM?We discuss:- What School Streets actually looks like (hint: it's active learning in action)- How schools apply and who is eligible- Why student engagement and classroom behavior improve when kids have space to move- The #1 barrier for under-resourced schools and how Open Plans removes it- Why equity in education and culturally responsive teaching are baked into their outreach model- How parent involvement and family partnerships make or break the program- What school leadership and principal strategies can do to champion this today- Why community engagement is non-negotiable in education transformation📩 Want to bring a School Street to your school? Reach out to Sabina directly: [email protected] Some resources mentioned:School Streets program with Open PlansHackney, UK (suburb of London): Open streets research program Paris School Streets program School Streets reportCHAPTERS:0:00 — Introduction & Sabina's Background1:45 — Research That Drives the Work (Hackney, UK)3:00 — How Street Design Became a Lever of Power5:00 — From Intern to Full-Time: The Equity Research That Started It All7:15 — How Schools Apply & Who Is Eligible8:45 — Prioritizing Low-Income Communities of Color9:45 — The Real Barriers: Staffing, PTAs & Stretched Schools10:55 — How Open Plans Removes Barriers for Schools12:30 — What a School Street Actually Looks & Feels Like13:45 — Flexible Hours: Schools Choose What Works for Them14:30 — How Involved Is Open Plans After Approval?15:30 — Leadership Turnover as a Hidden Barrier16:30 — Lightning Round: Best Quotes, Myths & Big Dreams18:30 — The Danger of Skipping Community Engagement19:30 — Key Takeaways & Part 2 PreviewJoin our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child. 📧 🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content.📧 Connect with me if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in. 🎵 Music: Benjamin WahlDon't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE!#schoolutions #schoolutionspodcast #forevergettingbetter #curiositydriven #evidencebasedstrategies #classroomreadystrategies#SchoolStreets #EquityInEducation #StudentEngagement When teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, they create schools where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged, supported, and ready to thrive.