Jane’s Walk NYC is back this year, offering tours that explore New York City from a local perspective, led by fellow New Yorkers.
The annual weekend of free walking tours celebrates urban life and takes place the first weekend in May, with the calendar of events now launched.
Hosted by the Municipal Art Society (MAS) since 2011, Jane’s Walk NYC is named after Jane Jacobs, a prominent critic of city planner Robert Moses and author of the influential book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.”
Jacobs’ 1961 critique of 1950s urban planning policies serves as inspiration for these free walks, which aim to ignite conversations regarding planning, history, preservation, development, and everyday urban existence.
The New York City version of this global initiative features both in-person walks and virtual experiences led by locals, with some tours being offered multiple times throughout the weekend.
While there is no fee to participate, attendees must make reservations to manage group sizes effectively.
The calendar, filterable by borough, was launched on April 11, and many tours are already approaching full capacity.
Among the highlights in Brooklyn, a rich lineup of tours is set to take place, all of which are in-person walks.
One notable tour is “Windsor Terrace,” which takes participants through the neighborhood as seen through the eyes of a longtime resident who recently passed away at the age of 97.
Tour leader David Bellel will share memories gathered from the late Artie Halbran’s autobiography while strolling by significant sites from his life.
This tour will be available just once on Saturday, May 3.
Another intriguing tour is “Exodus and Dance,” which focuses on an 80-foot-long frieze located at the Kingsborough Houses.
Led by Vaidehi Mody, a senior planning consultant with NYCHA, the tour will provide insight into this artwork by Richmond Barthé, relocated to Brooklyn in 1941 and recently restored.
Participants can expect to explore the development’s 17 acres while highlighting the role of public art, with stops at key locations within the complex.
This tour is scheduled to occur three times on Saturday, May 2.
For those interested in a deeper understanding of local development issues, the tour “A Mega Project Unresolved: What Happened With Atlantic Yards?” will be led by watchdog Norman Oder, taking place on both Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.
Another tour, titled “Dead, Dutch, and Still Around,” will be helmed by Desiree Rucker of Friends of Amersfort Park.
This exploration will cover Midwood and Flatlands, including a walk around Amersfort Park while noting areas linked to the Dutch heritage in the region.
This tour will be available on both Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 4.
Additionally, participants can wander through the historic Evergreens Cemetery in “Evergreens Cemetery: Andrew Downing’s Creation That Inspired Central Park.”
John Smelak, from the Guides Association of New York, will highlight Downing’s influence on landscape design and visit resting places of notable New Yorkers.
This particular walk is available just once on Sunday, May 4.
All tours happening in May can be viewed on the calendar available online.
image source from：https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/janes-walk-nyc-2025-walking-tours-calendar/
