Labor Day Parking Regulations and Street Closures

Tomorrow, Labor Day Monday, hundreds of thousands will be attending the annual West Indian American Day Parade in Crown Heights. Celebrations begin Sunday evening and run through Monday night. CrownHeights.info has compiled all the info you need to know in order to navigate the gridlocked neighborhood.

On Sunday beginning at 4:00pm there will be no parking on Eastern Parkway and on all avenues from President Street to S. Johns Place, places where you will not be allowed to park are marked in red on the attached map. Tow trucks will be going around starting at 4:00pm towing and relocating vehicles. You will be allowed to park there once again on Monday after 9:00pm.

Alternate side parking regulations and parking meter regulations will be suspended throughout New York City on Monday.

This year a significant change has been made, the J’ouvert celebration, which used to take place on Sunday after midnight will instead begin at 6:00am on Monday in an effort to curb the violence that plagues the celebration each year.

The parade will form at Grand Army Plaza on Eastern Parkway between Washington Avenue and Plaza Street East beginning at 5:00am, and will travel the following route;

Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza/East Drive and Empire Boulevard
Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Midwood Street

And will disperse at Nostrand Avenue between Midwood Street and Rutland Road.

The best time to leave Crown Heights on Monday morning would be before 9:00am and the best return time would be after 8:00pm. The parade officially wraps up at 6:00pm. Exiting the neighborhood by vehicle throughout the day on Monday would be easiest by heading towards Linden Boulevard.

In order to gain access to some of the streets police will require motorists to present identification with proof of address in order to allow drivers to pass blocked streets.

Police will be closing the streets below on Monday from 10:00am to 6:00pm;

Southbound traffic from Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
Northbound traffic from Empire Blvd. to Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
Northbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue from Church Avenue to Grand Army Plaza.
Southbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Empire Blvd.
Southbound traffic on Ocean Avenue from Empire Blvd. to Parkside Avenue.
Northbound traffic on Ocean Avenue from Parkside Avenue to Empire Blvd.

Additional closures include;

Buffalo Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Rutland Road
Rochester Avenue between East New York and Sterling Place
Ralph Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
East New York Avenue between Howard Avenue and Utica Avenue
Eastern Parkway between Howard Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Caton Avenue
Ocean Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Parkside Avenue
Butler Place between Grand Army Plaza and Sterling Place
St Johns Place between Underhill Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
Rockaway Parkway between East New York Avenue and Rutland Road
Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Flatbush Avenue
Bedford Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard
Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Linden Boulevard
Lincoln Place between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue

Additional local streets will likely be closed as well. Some rules are subject to change. Please plan accordingly.