MUD Workshop

Design + Planning


161st Street BID Vision Plan




161st Street anchors civic and commercial life in the South Bronx. It ties together landmarks like Yankee Stadium, the Borough Courthouse, Joyce Kilmer Park, and Lou Gehrig Plaza, yet the corridor itself lacks the cohesion and care these destinations deserve. The BID Plan provides a roadmap for transforming 161st Street into a walkable, active, and inviting corridor that supports daily life and community identity.

Project161st Street BID Vision Plan

LocationThe Bronx, NY

Client161st Street Business Improvement District

CollaboratorsUrban Design Forum, NYC Department of Transportation, NYC Parks

ServicesPublic Space Design, Visioning, Outreach and Engagement, Mobility and Streetscapes



161st Steet BID Priorty Sites for Improvement


MUD Workshop partnered with the 161st Street BID to create a public realm strategy for the entire 161st St corridor, supported by the Urban Design Forum’s Neighborhoods Now initiative. The project team conducted block-by-block site walks, facilitated interviews with business owners and residents, and coordinated directly with NYC DOT and NYC Parks to understand capital constraints and implementation channels. Together with the BID, we prioritized interventions that could be installed quickly, maintained locally, and scaled up over time. The final recommendations include modular seating, shade structures, curb extensions, lighting upgrades, and new banners to stitch together key public spaces. Each was vetted for physical feasibility, agency alignment, and operational fit.

Community Outreach


The completed vision plan offers a clear roadmap for the BID to guide investment, advocate with City agencies, and build toward long-term improvements. It balances district-wide goals with detailed, site-specific actions that can be phased in as funding and capacity allow. Lou Gehrig Plaza served as the first pilot site, where we installed a temporary shade canopy and flexible seating to activate the plaza and test real-world use. The installation doubled as a community event space and proof of concept. With the vision plan in hand, the BID can now coordinate, fundraise, and reshape 161st Street as a safer, more welcoming civic corridor.


Recommendations for the Improvement of McDonalds Plaza


Recommendations for the Improvement of McDonalds Plaza


Recommendations for River Ave Underpass


Recommendations for the Improvement of  E 161 st & River Ave



Thumbnail
161st Steet BID-Project Timeline
161st Steet Pedesrian Traffic Flow
161st Steet BID Priorty Sites for Improvement
Recommendations for the Improvement of  E 161 st & River Ave
Recommendations for the Improvement of McDonalds Plaza
Recommendations for River Ave Underpass
Recommendations for the Improvement of McDonalds Plaza
Lou Gehrig Plaza Plan
Community Events at Lou Gehrigs Plaza
Communit Outreach
Plaza Activation Proposal
Modular Seating and Shading at Lou Gehrigs Plaza
Lougehrig Plaza Activation


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