My daughters and I went for a walk last week and discovered tiny Lego figures embedded in the sidewalk. We soon realized we were on West 85th Street, also known as Lego Street! We learned there are about 40 little figurines to look for, and we had so much fun trying to find them.

The figures are tucked into sidewalk cracks and sealed into little pockets of resin and plaster. Some even have tiny props around them. It's such a fun, easy outing with little kids: it's free, takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and gives everyone a reason to slow down and look a little closer.

Lego pirate and mermaid figures beside a treasure chest and cannon in a resin pocket on West 85th Street

A pirate, a mermaid, and a tiny treasure chest tucked into the sidewalk.

Where to find Lego Street

Lego Street is on the north side of West 85th Street, between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West. Keep your eyes on the sidewalk as you walk along the block.

Tiny yellow Lego figure sealed into a sidewalk gap beside a metal utility cover on West 85th Street

Some figures are easy to walk right past, like this one beside a utility cover.

Blue and white Lego warrior figure embedded in a narrow crack in the concrete sidewalk
Blue Lego figure wearing a white helmet sealed into a long narrow seam between sidewalk slabs

The story behind it

In May 2026, ABC7 tracked down the person who has been leaving the figures: a local dad who prefers to stay anonymous. Some neighbors have nicknamed him the Banksy of 85th Street.

It started with his son, who was 8 at the time. When fresh concrete was poured near their home, the two of them pressed a single Lego figure into it. Since fresh concrete doesn't come along very often, they eventually moved on to the sidewalk cracks instead. By May 2026, there were dozens of figures along the block, and he was still looking after them. He told ABC7 he has no plans to spread them around the neighborhood. Keeping them on one block is part of the charm.

West Side Rag first reported on the figures in November 2024, when there were about 10, including a blue ninja, a wizard surrounded by golden leaves, and Star Wars characters under a layer of clear gel. The exact start date is a little unclear: that earlier report mentions around 2020, while ABC7's more recent story puts it around 2023.

Black and gold Lego samurai with a red mask sealed beneath clear resin against a gray brick backdrop

A tiny samurai with its own backdrop.

Lego pirate with an eye patch and a treasure chest under clear resin with a blue night sky backdrop

Even the little props are worth a closer look.

White-bearded Lego wizard with a staff surrounded by golden decorations beneath clear sidewalk resin

A wizard surrounded by gold.

Blue pixel-style toy figure embedded in a small crack in the West 85th Street sidewalk

Look for the QR code

One of the little encasements holds a QR code. Scan it and you'll find an Amazon listing for a 24-page children's book, The Guardians of West 85th Street: A Ninja Awakening by Carole Reede. It's about a group of Upper West Side kids who discover ninja figures in the sidewalk that come alive at night.

QR code and a tiny blue figure encased in the sidewalk beside a sign reading Scan here for the whole story, Guardians of West 85th

Look for the QR code that leads to the story behind the figures.

How many did you find?

Grab the kids and head to West 85th Street for a little sidewalk treasure hunt. Take your time, peek into the cracks, and see who spots the next tiny character first!

Sources: ABC7 New York, May 20, 2026 · West Side Rag, November 21, 2024