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Everything you need to know about the NY Liberty parade: streets, public transport, celebrations
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Everything you need to know about the NY Liberty parade: streets, public transport, celebrations

Six floats, four double-deckers and about 2,500 participants will take part in Thursday’s celebration of the New York Liberty’s WNBA championship title.

That’s a lot of people, a lot of excitement and a lot of logistics to think about just days after the Liberty’s 67-62 win over the Minnesota Lynx gave the team its first championship in its nearly 30-year history.

Several roads will be closed and public transport routes will be affected due to the massive celebration. The city’s sanitation department is also gearing up for the aftermath with 13 collection trucks, 36 mechanical brooms, another 133 hand brooms, 130 backpack blowers and more than 350 workers at the ready.

Here’s everything you need to know about celebrating Freedom – and how to travel around the area:

Where and when will it be?

The parade will take place Thursday morning along the “Canyon of Heroes,” the stretch of Broadway between Battery Place and City Hall in Manhattan’s financial district. It starts at Battery Place and West Street, with the formation area extending east to Thames Street, before heading east to Broadway, north to Chambers Street, east to Center Street and finally north to Lafayette and Worth.

The parade starts at 10 a.m., but the city recommends arriving on Broadway by 9 a.m. to secure a viewing spot.

Spectators can watch the parade from Morris Street to Park Row on the east side of Broadway and from Battery Place to Chambers Street on the west side of Broadway. There will be accessible viewing in Zuccotti Park.

The area around the town hall is closed to spectators.

How much does it cost?

The event is free and open to everyone.

Do I have to drive? (Please, please don’t.)

City officials discourage spectators from driving because there will be no parking in the area.

There will be a traffic diversion at 9 a.m. and Broadway will be closed to cars for the duration of the event. According to the Downtown Alliance, several other streets in the area will also be closed:

  • State Street between Battery Place and Bridge Street
  • Battery site between West Thames Street and Broadway
  • 3rd place between Battery Place and Little West Street
  • 2nd place between Battery Place and Little West Street
  • Little West Street between Morris Street and Battery Place
  • West Street between Morris Street and Battery Place
  • Morris Street between West Street and Washington Street

What about walking?

There will be pedestrian crossings at Broadway and Exchange Alley, Cedar Street, Cortlandt Street, Vesey Street, Chambers Street and Reade Street, plus one intersection at Reade and Centre.

Distribution points will be located on Center Street north of Chambers Street, Lafayette Street between Duane and Worth, and Broadway between Worth and Canal.

How will public transport be affected?

Straphangers should note that trains skip the R/W station of City Hall. The Bowling Green 4/5 station immediately north of the National Museum of the American Indian will be reserved for passengers using accessibility accommodations and the west side exits on Center Street in front of the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall 4/5/6- station will be closed.

Additionally, many MTA buses may be diverted due to street closures.

Anything else notable?

Backpacks are allowed and there are no checkpoints along the route.

What happens after the parade?

A ticketing ceremony will take place at City Hall from noon to 1 p.m., during which Mayor Eric Adams will present the team with the Key to the City. In the evening, members of the public who secured free tickets early will attend a free championship celebration at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. However, tickets are no longer available for both events.