NYC approves street closure for private school playground despite community opposition

New York City's Department of Transportation has approved a plan to close East 77th Street between Second and Third Avenues for the Birch Wathen Lenox School. The street will be closed to traffic on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting January 5. Local residents and business owners oppose the closure, arguing it disrupts access for emergency vehicles and inconveniences the community. Critics claim the program benefits wealthy families while harming tax-paying citizens. The school, which serves 500 students, says the closure will provide much-needed outdoor space for recreation. The community board voted overwhelmingly against the plan, urging the DOT to reconsider.