By most accounts (and photos), the first Summer Space event on Montague Street was thinly attended. It did happen over the July 4 weekend on a fairly unpleasant day, which probably accounts for some of the small crowd. The sponsors are trying to spin the event–which we actually think is a great idea–as a success. Here’s a bit from the press release:

Hundreds of pedestrians, bicyclists, families, shoppers, and patrons of local restaurants turned out to enjoy Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights on July 6 during the first Sunday of Summer Space. Summer Space, which is an initiative of the Montague Street BID, will continue between 10 am and 5 pm every Sunday in July. On these Sundays, Montague Street between Clinton Street and Montague Terrace will be closed to automobiles but open for recreation and leisurely strolls.

“I thought we had a terrific turn-out, more than we expected on a grey holiday weekend,” said Chelsea Mauldin, executive director of the Montague Street BID. “Our goal is to create an appealing pedestrian piazza that encourages Sunday shoppers to visit our street.”…One mom whose daughter played soccer in the middle of Montague Street on Sunday raved about Summer Space on the Brooklyn Heights Parents blog. She wrote, “What a great experience! Lots of families, dogs, neighbors, kids on bikes, etc. There was even a cotton candy guy like at baseball games. Hopefully, more people will take advantage of it in the coming weeks so that it will be brought back each summer.”

There will be a Williamsburg Walks event on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg on July 19th, July 26th, August 2nd and August 9th. Hopefully more people will take advantage of the car-free streets in both Brooklyn Heights and in Williamsburg.