Open Streets are coming to Detroit

A couple months ago, we told you about the idea phase of Open Streets in Detroit, and now in just a few short weeks, we’ll see it become a reality.

On Sunday, September 25 and Sunday, October 2 from 12-5, Michigan Avenue and West Vernor Highway will be closed to motor vehicles from Campus Martius all the way to Livernois for Open Streets. Participants are free to walk, jog, dance, bike, roller blade, skateboard, and move about without the use of a car for this celebration.

FYI, there is a Tigers game September 25 at that time, but the Lions are away both Sundays.

Activities will be centered around Campus Martius, Roosevelt Park, and Clark Park, but there will be activities throughout the four-mile stretch. Some of the activities will include:

• Dance workshops
• Yoga
• Cycling events like obstacle courses and scavenger hunts
• Sidewalk chalk art, lawn games, and literary programs for kids
• Bands, DJs
• Zumba, Tai Chi
• Dog training
• Street hockey, soccer (including a clinic led by Detroit City FC)
• Art events like a solar powered pottery studio, weaving workshops, and art fairs

A full map of Open Streets is below.

OpenStreetsDET

The launch of Open Streets Detroit joins an international movement of Open Streets initiatives. More than 200 cities worldwide have established on-going Open Streets initiatives. Here in Detroit, organizers and partners are hoping participants will support local businesses along the way and be open to the idea of more walkable, healthy neighborhoods.

For more information and a list of those partnering and participating, check the Open Streets Detroit site.

• Will Detroit Adopt Open Streets? [Curbed Detroit]
• Open Streets Detroit