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Mark your calendars for October 23^rd , and Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s second Open Streets 704 event! From 1pm to 5pm that Sunday, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and Partners for Parks clear the roads connecting Biddleville, Smallwood, Seversville, Wesley Heights, 4^th Ward, 3^rd Ward, Wilmore, and SouthEnd. Neighbors and businesses along the route will be notified soon so they can plan accordingly, with turn-by-turn route details to be released afterward.

The first Open Streets 704 on May 1st drew approximately 10,000 people on foot, bike, skateboards, rollerblades, and in strollers. Post-event surveys show participants overwhelmingly agree the event improved their overall image of the city and strengthened our community. Organizers hope the four-event series will create long-term community and business support for the concept.

Open Streets events create a temporary, linear park by opening the roads to pedestrian, bicycle, and other “people powered” transportation, so that the streets can be used for walking, cycling, dancing, playing, and meeting our neighbors. Open Streets events currently take place in more than 100 cities across North America and are typically held on Sunday afternoons when traffic volumes are lowest. Open Streets programs have proven to be successful at achieving goals related to recreation, public health, active transportation – like walking and biking, and community building.

Open Streets 704 is made possible by a generous grant from the Knight Foundation, in partnership with Partners for Parks, Mecklenburg County Government, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, the Mecklenburg County Health Department, and the support of Charlotte B-Cycle, the Charlotte Chamber’s Healthy Charlotte Council, Sustain Charlotte, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and Charlotte Fire departments.

For more information, check out https://openstreets704.com, or stay connected with the program on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!