Battle of the Boroughs is designed to engage young New Yorkers in shaping the future of their city. Building on the City’s PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done, and the Mayor’s Digital Gaming Initiative, New York Public Schools student teams competed to create the most inclusive future-ready city spaces. 

Learn more about the program on the NYCDOE 2024 Battle of the Boroughs Minecraft Challenge website.

The Challenge 

How can we repurpose New York City spaces to create a sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready city? 

Focus areas 

• Community Gardens and Markets: We need access to healthy meals and places to learn about creating a healthy community.

• Cultural Spaces: We need spaces to learn and connect to our history and culture. These can include art and museum spaces or areas for community cultural organizations to connect, grow, and share their history with the broader community. 

• Community Centers: Whether after-school programs for youth and seniors, spaces for exercise, or places to connect - how can we make sure the space serves the full needs of the area’s families and communities?

• Entrepreneurship: Local businesses and owners need space to create employment opportunities. Increasing opportunities for job training and career development can help the whole community to flourish. 

The Mayor’s Cup Finals

Borough Champions accompanied by their advisors competed for the citywide Mayor’s Cup alongside a Video Game Industry Education, Community & Careers Opportunities Expo featuring the chance to engage with industry professionals and community organisations. 

Congratulations to Elementary school winners Bronx’s The Straw Hat Luffers and Manhattan’s The Green Guardians, Middle school winners Manhattan’s Amateur Hour, and High school champions Staten Island’s Stream Team 2.0 for their designs for the new Brooklyn Army Terminal Climate Innovation Hub. The winning student teams were visited in their schools by Borough Presidents. 

Photo: David Dini Photography