Pedestrian Power on Uptown 23rd - 405 Magazine

Pedestrian Power on Uptown 23rd

Thousands expected to attend Open Streets OKC

 

Tens of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets, minus their vehicle, for the Open Streets OKC event in Uptown.
 

More than 35,000 people attended last year’s version of this event, which combines food, music and exercise and is aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle, while exploring a historic neighborhood that is back on the upswing.

NW 23rd from Robinson to Western will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to 4 p.m. and replaced with street vendors, bikes, skateboarders and pedestrians.

Sponsored by Wellness Now, the event’s organizers said it might only be one day, but its purpose is “permanent change,” adding: “The more residents who choose active transportation, the greater push for more accessible communities. That means healthier Oklahomans, more foot traffic for the local economy and an active interest in shaping the areas we call home.

“It won’t happen overnight but, with our help, we hope to create lasting, tight-knit neighborhoods across our city.”

Uptown 23rd District Association has also been working to create a more accessible community, and its report, which aims to guide future developers in the area, shows a need to make sidewalks wider, have more pedestrian areas and bicycle routes to achieve just that.

The event will be held on Sunday, April 2; for more information, click here.