Jane’s Walk NYC 2020 (from Home!)

Celebrating Jane Jacobs and New York City

Since 2011, the Municipal Art Society has been proud to host Jane’s Walk NYC, a festival of volunteer-led “walking conversations” inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs. 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.

This year, of course, much has changed, and quicker than anyone could have imagined. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bear down on our city, the best way for many of us to help is to simply stay home—creating space for the essential workers serving on the frontlines, from emergency rooms to bodegas, in a monumental effort to keep New York strong.

The very act of gathering together that was once central to the Jane’s Walk experience must be reimagined. 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.

And so we are delighted to announce Jane’s Walk NYC (from Home), a reimagining of the festival that we hope brings the same joy and inspiration you’ve come to expect from this annual celebration. Stay tuned for more details as the big event approaches, but here are some hints at what we have planned…

Jane’s Walk NYC (from Home) will be longer! Jane’s Walk Weekend will now extend into Jane’s Walk Week, with seven days of virtual experiences that bring us together, while we are apart.

Jane’s Walk NYC (from Home) will be social! From Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to platforms like Urban Archive and the Census of Places that Matter, we’ll be connecting with you in a digital dialogue across all five boroughs using #JanesWalkNYC.

And most importantly, Jane’s Walk NYC (from Home) will be a tribute to the magic of everyday life in New York—all the places, people, and encounters that we cherish more than ever in these difficult times.

So please mark your calendars (Monday, April 27–Sunday, May 3) for a Jane’s Walk NYC like none other. We’ll see you there!