Lucy Gomez from the Logan Square Neighborhood Association speaks with ABC7 Chicago about the free fun.
(Press Release from Chicagoland Bicycle Federation: )
Residents walking, biking, skating and dancing will reclaim 10 miles of Chicago streets through five Northwest and West side communities in the first-ever Sunday Parkways events Oct. 5 and Oct. 26, community-based organizations announced alongside key partners and funders.
On each day, a linear route along Chicago's historic and beautiful boulevard system will be closed to car traffic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Logan Square, Humboldt Park, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods, displaying the vibrant culture of these communities along the way.
On Oct. 5, the route will run from Kedzie and Logan boulevards to Woodward Drive and Jackson Boulevard. Three weeks later on Oct. 26, a second route will run from 24th Street and California Avenue to Lake Street and Central Park Avenue.
It is a free, open event with no start, finish or registration.
"I am excited because five connected communities are working together to engage residents of all ages and abilities to temporarily reclaim public space for human-powered activity in a safe and relaxed environment," said Lucy Gomez-Feliciano of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.
The focus of Sunday Parkways is physically active communities. Residents can play sports, participate in exercise classes and dance at five activity stations along the routes - Palmer Square, Garfield Park, Douglas Park, Humboldt Park and Telpochcalli Community School.
Sunday Parkways is the result of a collaboration of five community-based organizations - Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation and Great Humboldt Park Community of Wellness, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Little Village Community Development Corporation, Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Lawndale Christian Development Corporation. Partners, including the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the Chicago Park District, have helped coordinate and execute the two events. The event is also fully supported by wards along the route, including Alds. Rey Colon (35), Walter Burnett (27), Sharon Dixon (24), Billy Ocasio (26), Ed Smith (28), Ariel Reboyras (30),George Cardenas (12) and Ricardo Munoz (22)
Sunday Parkways is modeled after similar successful events in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Bogotá, Colombia. Already this year, U.S. cities New York City and Portland have held similar events.
"Sunday Parkways is more than opening the streets to people and closing them to cars. It is an exercise in social integration; it is about developing a sense of belonging to the city," said Gil Penalosa, executive director of Walk & Bike for Life and former Commission of Parks in Bogotá, Colombia, where he led the successful Cicolovia - a model for Sunday Parkways that sees more than 1.5 million people each week
Cars will still be able to cross the route at signalized intersections. Local residential traffic will be allowed access to the route with help of traffic control aides.
For more information, log on to www.biketraffic.org/sundayparkways
