Knicks victory parade comes with increased security, street closures in New York City
New York City is readying for crowds to flood the streets of Lower Manhattan on Thursday as the New York Knicks celebrate their NBA Finals win -- the first in over five decades.
The victory parade for the NBA champion Knicks will draw the largest number of police officers ever assigned to a planned event, the NYPD said Wednesday.
More than 10,000 members of the NYPD will safeguard the route ending at City Hall, where the mayor will present the Knicks with keys to the city.
The contingent will include heavy weapons teams, explosive detection K9s, transportation, transit, highway, aviation, drones and more, according to police. There will be assets seen and unseen, officials noted.
Some of the preparations for the event include street closures and in-person screenings, according to a city website set up for the event.
The Knicks parade will kick off at 10 a.m. near Bowling Green, a park in New York's Financial District, where the route will continue north along Broadway until it reaches City Hall. This route is known as the "Canyon of Heroes" for its history as the setting of ticker-tape parades.
According to the website, attending the parade is "free and open to everyone, no ticket required," though the site warns parade goers should arrive early.
For those planning to go in person, the city noted all attendees will be screened. A list of prohibited items includes backpacks, drones, bikes, chairs, umbrellas, weapons and more.
The city also detailed subway station closures, and nearly two dozen access points for the parade.
In preparation for the parade, the city also rolled out a comprehensive street closure plan to clear the way for the NBA Champions.
The site states that parking will be prohibited south of Canal Street, which lies to the north of the parade route, starting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
On Thursday at 7 a.m., the area south of Canal Street will close to vehicle traffic between the Hudson and East Rivers, which border Manhattan on either side, though the FDR and West Side Highway, on the permitter of borough.
FDR traffic off the Brooklyn Bridge will only move northbound, though pedestrians will be able to use the walkway, according to the website.
"Staten Island Ferry service will run every 15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to accommodate Staten Islanders attending the parade," the site reads.
Following the parade, the Knicks will be welcomed to City Hall where ticket holders can watch as they are presented with Keys to the City.
"From a playoff run that left New Yorkers breathless to a tip-in that will be talked about for decades, the Knicks have earned a hero’s welcome," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a press release statement on Tuesday. "We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion."
In the hours after the Knicks won the championship on Saturday, 63 people were arrested and at least 10 members of the NYPD were injured amid victory celebrations in the city, according to the NYPD.
