St. Paul Open Streets returns to University Avenue

Second year event showcases businesses, arts in a car free environment

On Sept. 21, University Ave. will be open – open to people biking, walking, skating, shopping, eating and having fun at this year’s St. Paul Open Streets. University Ave. will be closed to traffic from Lexington Pkwy. to Marion St., 12-4pm.

Open Streets events bring together families, neighbors and friends to mingle, recreate, dine, play and shop in their community in a safe, car-free environment. Participants can explore the street that is open only to foot, bicycle and skate traffic at their own pace. In addition to bicycling, walking and skating, there are programmed recreational activities for all ages along the street.

Among this year’s activities:

The Shirt off your back 5K, benefitting Goodwill / Easter Seals, kicking off the festivities at 8am;

The Little Mekong Day Market, featuring arts, performances, interactive activities and food from Western to Galtier;

The Sustainable Transportation Expo, from Victoria to St. Albens, showcasing transportation options like biking, car sharing and transit resources in St. Paul;

Windom Dances Water Festival, celebrating our connection to water as it flows down University Ave. and into the Mississippi through dance and interactive exhibits;

Interactive arts activates spread throughout the event, including human foosball, street animation and more; and

Green Line businesses and organizations showcasing the unique flavor of University Ave.

Last year saw over 6,000 people taking in University Ave. from a new point of view. They are hoping this year’s event will see over 10,000 attendees.

And, although they close the street to regular traffic (bus traffic will move to Edmond), the light rail will still be moving, and the following north/south cross streets will remain open to traffic: Lexington Pkwy., Victoria St., Dale St., Western Ave., and Marion St.

Learn more by going to: www.stpaulopenstreets.org; www.facebook.com/StPaulOpenStreets; www.twitter.com/STPLOpenStreets; and #STPLOpenStreets.

St. Paul Open Streets is being produced in partnership with St. Paul Smart Trips, the Asian Economic Development Association, the Summit-University Planning Council, the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, Cycles for Change, the Hamline-Midway Coalition, the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, the Union Park District Council and the Lexington-Hamline Community Council, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative, Bush Foundation and the City of St. Paul Cultural Star Program.