Open Streets Wilmington Takes Over Delaware Avenue on Saturday, September 18th
Wilmington, DE: Urban Bike Project of Wilmington has partnered with West Side Grows Together to bring Open Streets Wilmington to Delaware Avenue from 9am-12pm on Saturday, September 18th. Open Streets Wilmington takes place once a month, closing streets to motor vehicles to create space for outside activity. Walk, bike, run, roller blade, dance. Visit local businesses. Enjoy children’s activities, fitness classes and much more!
Open Streets Wilmington emerged as a way to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 as many gathering spaces were closed and community events were cancelled. Laura Wilburn, Executive Director of Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, states, “A lot of folks discovered or rediscovered the outdoors this past year. These strange circumstances have reminded us how the outdoors can help ground us, calm us, and bring us closer to our communities. Our streets are public spaces that connect us, but they can also serve as barriers if you're not in a car, and especially if you have young children. By taking away traffic, we give residents a chance to reclaim that space temporarily for walking, biking and playing. You can connect with your neighborhood in a really novel way when you move through space by foot or bike, and there's this surprising exhilaration to playing in the streets - something that's normally "off limits".”
An important component of Open Streets on Delaware Avenue is that residents can enjoy a car-free connection from Rockford Park all the way to Dining on Delaware and Trolley Square destinations. Bring your family, take your dog for a walk, or go for a bike ride (there will be free rental bikes!). Take a yoga class in the street or eat brunch outside. This morning event will be a fun, healthy, and relaxing day for residents and visitors. Open Streets on Delaware Avenue will offer a variety of opportunities for all. For a full list of activities and schedules visit: https://openstreetswilmington.org/september-18-delaware-ave/
Open Streets is led by a steering committee of community leaders and organizations including: Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, West Side Grows Together, YMCA, University of Delaware Living Lab, DART, Wilmapco, The Committee of 100, The Teen Warehouse, Councilwoman At-Large Rysheema Dixon, and Nuestra Raices Delaware. Open Streets Wilmington is made possible through sponsorships by AARP Community Challenge Grants and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware through their Blueprints for the Community grant Program.
View event details on the Web or Facebook.
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West Side Grows Together is a coalition of residents, businesses, churches, and local leadership in the West Side of Wilmington, Delaware, working together to transform & strengthen their community. Follow West Side Grows Together on the Web, Facebook & Instagram for more information and program updates.