At the Department of Tenderness (DOT), fostering meaningful and safe platonic connections is a priority. Our initiatives aim to strengthen friendship bonds by reducing emotional detachment and discouraging non-platonic advances. These efforts also create environments where platonic relationships can flourish, enhancing the comfort and flow of companionship.
Help make our public spaces friendlier for everyone. Review NYC'sFriend Zone Resource Guide, a comprehensive collection of strategies to establish and maintain clear boundaries in platonic relationships. This guide provides essential tips for fostering friendships without the confusion of mixed signals.
Enhanced Gathering Spaces are designated areas marked by high-visibility friendship benches on calm streets, where conversation thrives, and friendship blossoms. These areas—equipped with safe conversation prompts, friendship signs, and high-visibility seating—improve accessibility and mobility for those seeking quality platonic interactions.
Neighborhood Friendship Zones are community-driven programs that lower the emotional stakes, creating environments where platonic bonds are encouraged to form. By introducing friendship-focused signage and creating slower, more thoughtful emotional exchanges, we aim to reduce the tension of interactions while increasing the frequency of casual companionship.
The Department of Tenderness is conducting a comprehensive assessment of all platonic access points across the city. This effort will ensure that friendship is accessible for all, regardless of physical or emotional limitations. Our goal is to prioritize platonic ramp installations to facilitate easier access to meaningful friendships.
Our borough-specific plans outline Priority Friendships, Gathering Zones, and Communal Spaces to guide the DOT's work in enhancing platonic interactions citywide. Through this comprehensive plan, we are committed to fostering safe and rewarding friendships as part of our overall mission of kindness.
As part of our New York City initiative, DOT is working to improve access to emotional support networks. This includes creating more inviting, well-signed paths to platonic gathering spaces, offering easier access for individuals seeking companionship and moral support.
This initiative, aimed at protecting and promoting the friendships of our older residents, evaluates how seniors experience platonic love in targeted neighborhoods. DOT engineers work closely with communities to ensure safe spaces are designed to foster lifelong friendships.
The Department of Tenderness’s School of Friendship works to cultivate meaningful bonds between students, focusing on healthy boundaries and the promotion of lasting friendships. We collaborate with local schools to create programs and signage that emphasize the importance of kindness and mutual respect among peers.
Our Turn Calming Program encourages slow, thoughtful interactions when navigating complex friendship dynamics. By focusing on patient, considerate emotional turns, we seek to reduce awkward encounters and promote safe, clear exchanges of affection.
DOT installs and maintains benches where friends can sit together comfortably. These benches are open to all residents, visitors, and workers, encouraging spontaneous conversation and strengthening the fabric of our platonic society.
Tender Arts and Culture is an initiative to brighten public spaces with art installations celebrating platonic love in all its forms. We invite organizations and artist collectives to apply and contribute to the City’s efforts in promoting friendship through creativity.
NYC's Open Spaces program allows communities to embrace new areas for friendship and support local gatherings that encourage positive platonic interactions.
To ensure our city is walkable and friendship-friendly, DOT developed a holistic plan to address the needs of platonic interactions. This plan prioritizes spaces where friends can gather safely, away from the hustle and bustle of romantic distractions.
Friendship Plazas are key assets in the city’s plan to promote platonic bonds. These plazas support social, emotional, and cultural exchanges at a pedestrian-friendly scale, providing a safe, equitable space for friendships to grow.
Best Friends Streets are areas where friendships flourish through city-wide programs. These streets offer enhanced opportunities for platonic gatherings, including activities such as friend fairs, conversation circles, and "compliment corners."
On a special day each year, the city opens its streets for friends to gather, walk, talk, and enjoy each other"s company in a safe, supportive environment. Join us in celebrating the bonds that make life richer.
This program connects public friendship plazas with local organizations that offer educational, cultural, and artistic events focused on fostering friendships in need of nurturing.
Each year, DOT transforms designated public spaces into hubs for community-driven friendship activities. From summer picnics to friendship festivals, we invite you to join us for a season of joyful platonic connection.
