6 beautiful new public parks and plazas coming to New York City

Over 8.5 million people live in New York City, which means public spaces that allow for walking, biking, and lounging are indispensable. And the city is always looking to improve them.

Every year, the NYC Public Design Commission recognizes outstanding public project designs, both planned and built. In late November, after reviewing hundreds of submissions, the commission announced the 2016 winners, which include parks, plazas, a police precinct, and waterfront docks.

The competition, established in 1983, follows the city's efforts to make the city more pedestrian-friendly. Under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Manhattan banned cars from parts of Times Square and Herald Square and designated them only for foot traffic. Within the last decade, NYC has also built 400 more miles of bike lanes.

The winners of the competition, called the Awards for Excellence in Design, encourage that vision of human-centric urban design.

Check out some of the designs below.