[2] The idea of the Summer Streets program came in 2008 from commissioner of New York City Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan under the mayoralty of Michael Bloomberg, as part of a broader plan to reduce car traffic and encourage walking and biking as a mode of transportation in New York City.

[3] The concept was inspired by a similar program called Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia, which has existed since 1974 and consists of the closure of 70 miles (110 km) of streets for biking, walking and even dancing.

The installation, called "Dive", intended to immerse pedestrians in an undersea ambiance, and included sounds of waves, clicking fish and boats.

[9] In 2015, mural artist Stephen Powers was commissioned by the city to create an art installation to promote sustainable transportation.

[2][13] In 2023, the program expanded to the five boroughs for a total of 20 miles (32.2 km) of car-free zone, including the closure of Vernon Boulevard in Queens, Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, and Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

Beside the Manhattan route, the closed streets include Vernon Boulevard in Queens, Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, and Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.