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Everything you need to know about the NY Liberty Parade: Streets, Transit, Celebrations

Everything you need to know about the NY Liberty Parade: Streets, Transit, Celebrations

Six floats, four double-decker buses and approximately 2,500 participants will take part in the celebration of the New York Liberty's WNBA title win on Thursday.

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 victory over the Minnesota Lynx that gave the team its first championship in its nearly 30-year history .

For the huge celebration, several streets will be closed and public transport will be affected. The city's sanitation department is also preparing for the consequences with 13 collection trucks, 36 mechanical brooms, another 133 hand brooms, 130 backpack blowers and more than 350 workers.

Here's everything you need to know about the Freedom Celebrations – and how to get around the area:

Where and when will it be?

The parade takes place Thursday morning along the “Canyon of Heroes,” the stretch of Broadway between Battery Place and City Hall in Manhattan's financial district. It begins 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 begins at 10 a.m., but the city recommends arriving at 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 an accessible viewing at Zuccotti Park.

The area around the town hall remains closed to spectators.

How much does it cost?

The event is free and open to everyone.

Should I drive? (Please, please don't.)

The city administration advises spectators not to drive as there is no parking in the area.

A traffic diversion is scheduled to begin 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 Place 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

How about walking?

There will be crosswalks at Broadway and Exchange Alley, Cedar Street, Cortlandt Street, Vesey Street, Chambers Street and Reade Street, as well as a crosswalk at Reade and Center.

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

How will local transport be affected?

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

Additionally, many MTA buses may be rerouted due to road closures.

Is there anything else worth noting?

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

What happens after the parade?

A ceremony will take place at City Hall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. during which Mayor Eric Adams will present the team with the key to the city. In the evening, spectators who secured early free tickets will attend a free championship celebration at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn from 7 to 10 p.m. However, tickets are no longer available for both events.

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