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With the inevitable deluge of visor-clad tourists and hot garbage, summer in NYC tends to get a bad rep. But over the past eight years, the Summer Streets program has made the streets of New York a desirable place to be. For three weekends this August, nearly seven miles of Manhattan streets will be closed off to traffic and inundated with thrill-seekers who want a good time in the outdoors but don't feel like taking a jitney to the Hamptons. And after much fanfare from last year's fest, such favorites as the 270-foot Vita Coco waterslide will return.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Summer Streets NYC 2016
New Yorkers of all ages are invited to play on Lafayette St and Park Ave between the Brooklyn Bridge and 72nd St on Saturdays Aug 6, 13 and 20 between 7am and 1pm. The city's many participating departments and private vendors are going all out this year: along with the legendary waterslide, the fest will feature a 30-foot zipline, hammocks, misting stations, rock-climbing wall and scores of public art installations. If you're feeling particularly athletic, you can join the legions of bikers, rollerbladers, soccer and basketball players for organized fun or city-sponsored classes and games.
The city is yet to release the official route breakdown for the three-weekend blowout, but we're hoping for many announcements regarding free Italian ice.
You can learn more about SummerStreets here.