You Can Take Virtual Walking Tours of New York’s Boroughs This Week

Jane’s Walk NYC, a Municipal Art Society-organized event that celebrates urbanist Jane Jacobs, is a series of volunteer-led walking tours in each of the five boroughs. To encourage New Yorkers to stay at home, MAS decided to put Jane’s Walk online for the first time in its decade-long history. 

Many cities across the world participate in Jane’s Walk each year. However, for many of these cities, Jane’s Walk 2020 is going to look a bit different, if the respective walks happen at all. But rather than hold off on holding this year’s walk, MAS decided to reshape the event and let walkers celebrate the life of Jane Jacobs as well as their love for New York City from the comfort of their own homes.

“Across nearly ten years and thousands of walks, we’ve taken to the streets with you on the first weekend in May to herald the spring, celebrate Jane Jacobs, and explore the city she loved so much. It is, truly, our favorite weekend of the year,” president of MAS Elizabeth Goldstein said, per 6sqft.

“This year, the very act of gathering together that was once central to the Jane’s Walk experience isn’t possible. But the spirit of Jane’s Walk was always about more than that. Our love for New York, our connections to our neighbors and neighborhoods, and our faith in Jane Jacobs’ model of local activism has never been greater.”

From Monday, April 27 through Sunday, May 3, MAS will announce a fresh New York City-themed activity for participants to engage with via social media. So, for example, today MAS asked New Yorkers what their favorite place in the city is.

You can hop in on the fun by following MAS on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. New activities will be posted in the morning for followers to partake in throughout the day.