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Washington Heights just got even more colorful. The city cut the ribbon on the new Audubon Plaza, an almost 11,000 square foot pedestrian zone between 165th and 166th Streets that has transformed a once ordinary stretch of Audubon Avenue into a bright, bustling public hangout.
The highlight is De Lo Mio, a sweeping asphalt mural by local artist Talisa Almonte. It's a tribute to Dominican culture, and in Washington Heights that means it's also a tribute to the community itself. The work pulls from Liliana Mera Limé’s iconic Muñeca Sin Rostro and threads in plátanos, dominoes and the warm patterns tied to kitchens, living rooms and sidewalk tables from Santo Domingo to St. Nicholas Avenue.
The plaza is stocked with tables and chairs, books, bike corrals and open space that will play host to everything from pop-up classes to weekend domino tournaments. It builds on the neighborhood’s Open Streets program that launched in the summer of 2024. That program turned several blocks of Audubon Avenue into a seasonal, car-free stretch featuring kids’ activities, music and bustling street life. The new plaza makes will feel just like that year-round.
On opening day, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called Audubon Plaza a community hub. "Public art enlivens our shared spaces to be places of connection and joy, and Audubon Plaza stands as testament to the transformative power of Open Streets in celebrating neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, and making our streets safer," he said during the ribbon cutting event.
The bold, playful mural also marks a milestone for the city as the 151st public art installation completed under the current administration. According to the DOT, the city has delivered more than 1.5 million square feet of new pedestrian space. The NYC Streets Plan, passed by the City Council in 2019, required major investments in public space, and Washington Heights is one of its biggest success stories.
"When a city commits to creating space for its people, it chooses dignity, safety, and a future rooted in community. With NYC DOT's investment and Talisa Almonte's vibrant vision rising from the asphalt, Audubon Plaza is more than a traffic-calming intervention—it's a declaration of who Washington Heights is and who we insist on becoming," said New York State Senator Robert Jackson in an official statement. "This is what it looks like when public art and public policy move together—transforming concrete into connection, and turning streets into spaces where culture, safety, and belonging can thrive."