Lace up your sneakers or strap on your bike helmet this Sunday for Open Streets Macon. From 2-6 p.m. nearly 2 miles of Downtown Macon streets will be closed to traffic, allowing residents to dance, play, bike and boogie their way between 30 activity stations.
This paved park will stretch down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from the Ocmulgee River to the Industrial District and down Cherry Street from Cherry Street Plaza to Bernd Park. Get to know your friends and neighbors – more than 2,700 people participated in the last two years – as well as 40 local groups, individuals and businesses ready to lead fun, interactive activities designed to show you why Macon is a great place to live, work and play.
Some of the planned activities include the Macon Beer Company Band, DJ B3, Wellness Center Zumba, Sparks Yoga class, Bike Walk Macon bike parade and other interactive events suitable for the whole family.
Open Streets Macon is part of an international movement. More than 200 cities worldwide have created Open Streets initiatives, modeled after the initial program established in Bogota, Colombia.
It began in Macon in 2016 with the closing of two miles on College Street. Since then, more than 150 volunteers have helped activate the streets. The results from the 2017 Open Streets event indicate a positive response to the program. Check out these 2017 stats:
- 50 percent of attendees were first-timers
- 80 percent said Open Streets made them more interested in walking and biking in Macon
- 93 percent said the event made them feel more positive about living in Macon
- 80 percent said Open Streets allowed them to meet people from other racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
Open Streets Macon is an initiative of Bike Walk Macon. Founded in 2015, Bike Walk Macon is the area’s first grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization working to make bicycling and walking a safe, healthy and affordable option for transportation and recreation for all Maconites.
Learn more about the Open Streets Macon event on Sunday by visiting openstreetsmacon.com. Get more info on Bike Walk Macon at bikewalkmacon.com.
