Volunteer Profile
The Car-Free Central Park Committee

Committee members and supporters gathered with Councilmember Gale Brewer on January 3rd at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue to celebrate car-free overnight hours in Central Park.

Even in the rain the cake tasted sweet. After nearly a decade of organizing, post-carding and petitioning, the activism of the Car-Free Central Park Committee had paid off. The group met the evening of January 3rd to close the barricades to cars overnight and celebrate a new milestone along the path to a completely car-free park.

The current Car-Free Central Park Committee formed in the mid-1990s. Spear-headed by Ken Coughlin, who became the committee’s chairperson in 1996, the committee has significantly raised the Campaign’s political profile in the city. The Central Park committee’s efforts over the last decade are an illustration of how a small group of people can change the landscape of New York City if they are willing to take the time to gain the support of thousands of their neighbors.

There are currently about 10 core members of the committee. They include an actuary, a musical director, a lawyer, a legal editor, two computer software programmers, a retired magazine editor, a health care administrator and a cell phone salesperson. What unites this diverse group is a shared belief that parks are places for people, not cars, and all people should feel safe walking, biking and playing in the park.

Committee members are willing to do whatever it takes to win a car-free park, from spending an evening in Central Park collecting petition signatures, to helping make signs and collect props for marches and rallies. They know that the accumulation of these small acts can create great change. “We are certain we’re going to win this thing,” says chairperson Coughlin, “but so far it hasn’t happened overnight. What keeps me going is the knowledge that a small group like ours has been able to activate a much larger group of people and that step by step we are reclaiming the park for people. The only thing we know for sure is that if someone doesn’t fight for this, it will never happen.”

The fight goes on. This spring the committee will be working on the next phase of its campaign — winning car-free afternoon hours from 3 to 7 pm. This is precious time for school children who are returning home from school and looking for a safe and attractive place to play. There are already fewer cars in the park during these hours than during the morning rush, and the committee believes this could be their next big win.

Be a part of our next victory! To join the car-free Central Park committee visit transalt.org/campaigns/cpark/index.html and click on “Join the campaign!” or call 212-629-8080.

Central Park Committee Milestones

1995: Car-Free Central Park Committee established in present form

1996: Ken Coughlin becomes committee chairperson.

1996-1998: Committee launches a postcard campaign in park, directed towards the mayor, Parks Commissioner and Manhattan Borough President. 6,000 signed postcards are collected and delivered.

1998: Committee launches a postcard campaign directed towards the city councilmembers with districts north of the park – Bill Perkins and Phil Reed. 500 signed postcards are collected from these councilmembers’ constituents and delivered to the councilmembers.

1998: Several serious crashes occur between drivers and park users. The Committee organizes the first of two marches that draw hundreds of supporters for a car-free park.

1999: Councilmember Reed publicly announces his support of a car-free Central Park.

1999: The Manhattan Borough President invites committee to present the case for a car-free Central Park to the Manhattan Borough Council. The Council later lets the issue drop.

2000: The current petition drive begins with a goal of collecting 100,000 signatures in support of a car-free Central Park to deliver to the Mayor.

2004: Councilmember Perkins publicly announces his support of a car-free Central Park.

2004: Rally for a Car-Free Central Park draws over 1,000 supporters including city councilmembers, traffic and health experts, writers, park users, and other advocates.

2004: Weeks later the NYC Department of Transportation announces car-free overnight hours and closure of five entrances to cars.

2005: New restrictions on car traffic in the park take effect including the above changes and a reduction of the park’s speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph and the addition of an HOV-2 only lane on the park’s west side during the morning rush hour.

2005: Over 80,000 signatures have been collected in support at a car-free Central Park.

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