Celebrating Community and Opportunity for All
Open Streets events are happily back! After having limited events last year, last month’s Open Streets event on Lyndale helped showcase its return.
Open Streets – Franklin was a continued combination of celebration and community (say that 3 times). More than 200 vendors, neighborhood groups, food trucks, arts and music were here for a street festival for all!
It was also another opportunity for city and state leaders to visually see how communities benefit from pedestrian and bicycle-friendly streets.
For transit, the Franklin location is an excellent destination. Like in the past, Metro Transit offered up free rides. It’s right off the Metro Blue Line, many bus lines, Nice Ride stations, and trails. Getting to these events is too easy.
I entered Open Streets at Franklin and Portland and headed east. The first thing I noticed were clean recreational fields and courts at Peavey Field Park. I was bad at soccer for 35 years and somehow this means I’m attracted to fields with nice cityscapes. I had no idea that the overall park was so big. I don’t know if it hosts any youth leagues but it’s a nice park nestled in the community.
Soon after, I came across the Norway House and their additional building under construction for more events. While talking with them, I learned that one of their strengths is the business relations they’ve built in the community. In fact, the general consulate of Norway is located here.
Additionally, the Iraqi+American Reconciliation Project (IARP) was happening. celebrating Eid Al-Adha to display at and in the Norway House.
The folks at Nice Ride were there as always sharing their programs and inviting people to ride both bikes and their ebikes.
They’re hoping to overcome red tape and bring back Nice Ride to St. Paul. Anyone remember the Tour De Nice years back? That was a fun (and tiring) way to see both cities by bike share.
Our Streets had a big area with lots of info and opportunities, including an area showcasing their Bring Back 6th campaign in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Boulevard vision connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The booths on the Tracy’s Saloon block were celebrated as well.
Seward Co-Op’s 50th anniversary block party was there in community with Open Streets showcasing free samples, $5 lunches, music and live screen printing.
They even had a compelling area to share your memories.
Seward Co-op added a Vimeo segment prior to the event from their marketing department to boost up their 50th year block party.
In the video, Nat talks about food and drink vendors, departments, actual Seward Coop employee art to showcase and sell, and live music on the Open Streets route.
[vimeo 727808337 w=640 h=360]Minnesota social media had a few things to say about the event, including a bollard bit.
Not only do these Open Streets continue to be fun and family friendly, they serve as a vision of what these streets could be if they belonged more to the neighborhoods.
Join and help grow the community with more Open Streets Minneapolis events this summer on East Lake, West Broadway and Minnehaha Avenue!