Weekend Walks Program Coming To Sheepshead Bay Road; Street To Be Closed June 1 For Festival

Sheepshead Bay Road will be transformed into a plaza full of outdoor cafes, kids activities and interactive, family-fun programming on Sunday, June 1, as the corridor becomes the latest participant of the Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks series.

Initiated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the burgeoning Sheepshead merchant’s association, the program sees the DOT partner with neighborhood organizations – in our case, Empower Sheepshead, Kings Bay Y, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and Sheepshead Bites – to produce a multi-block festival highlighting the area’s businesses and scenic waterfront.

The street will be closed to vehicular traffic and buses rerouted from East 15th Street to Emmons Avenue, as local eateries and shops extend their storefronts to the curb. There will be loads of kids activities on the asphalt – we’ve already lined up several through the Kings Bay Y as well as Sheepshead Bay Road’s Brainy Academy, who may have some hands-on Lego robotic displays – and more are on the way. There will be a curbside beer garden operated by Wheeler’s (and possibly other watering holes on the strip), and interactive exhibits from area cultural institutions are also in the works, as is a bevy of artwork and live music.

The event has yet to be named, although organizers are mulling the “Sheepshead Summer Stroll.” Suggestions made here in the comments and via our social media accounts will be considered.

Business owners, interested residents and organizations can get involved by attending an information session this coming Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at Wheeler’s Restaurant (1705 Sheepshead Bay Road). There, we’ll be hammering out more details on the programming, so if you’ve got a great idea for a street-side activity make sure you attend. (Note: there is absolutely no cost to business owners to get involved!)

And don’t forget: there’s also BayFest 2014 coming on May 18 on Emmons Avenue. Two awesome street fairs spotlighting the businesses, organizations and waterfront that bring our neighborhood to life!