Open Streets returns!

It’s time once again to bike and party in the streets! Open Streets returns to Minneapolis for its 12th season after funding shortages threatened to close it. 

The series of events, which historically involved closing long stretches of road to motorists so pedestrians and bikers can enjoy themselves, had been pared back in recent years due to staffing limitations. This year, Our Streets Minneapolis, the local nonprofit that organizes it on behalf of the city, is organizing five events this year, collectively closing a total of seven miles of Minneapolis streets to vehicle traffic. 

Three of the Open Streets mainstay routes have returned: Lyndale, Lake, and West Broadway. Open Streets will also return to the West Bank for the first time since the pandemic began, albeit in a truncated half-mile segment. 

New this year is Open Streets will be in the Harrison neighborhood for the first time along a 1.3-mile-long route on Glenwood Avenue, this Sunday, July 16. It’s a route they are planning with the Harrison Neighborhood Association, which has partnered with Our Streets on a number of campaigns. 

“Last year, we hosted an event called ‘Imagine Sixth Avenue North,’ and we had wanted to do an Open Streets on Olson Highway. But MnDOT and the city wouldn’t allow us to do that,” said Harrison Neighborhood Association Executive Director Nichole Buehler. “So, we used the frontage street and Harrison Park to host the event. And that led to this year, doing Open Streets on Glenwood Avenue.” 

At an Open Streets planning meeting Community members expressed excitement about the event happening on Glenwood this summer. “The spirit of this neighborhood now needs medicine,” said resident Marcus Kar. “There are a lot of people in transition, issues around housing, homelessness, mental illness, drugs, and abuse and things like that, that we need to lift the spirit of this neighborhood [and] gather people around.”

Here’s a list of upcoming Open Streets events:

Open Streets Glenwood will happen on Sunday, July 16, from 11 am to 5 pm; Glenwood Avenue between Bryant Ave North and Washburn Ave North. Take Metro Transit: Route 9, or micro.

Open Streets Cedar, Sunday, August 20, 11 am to 5 pm; Cedar Avenue between 3rd Street and 6th Street, and Riverside Avenue between Cedar Ave and 19th Ave. Take Metro Transit: Routes 2, 3, 7, 22, Blue Line, Green Line.

Open Streets West Broadway, Saturday, September 16, 11 am to 5 pm; West Broadway Ave between Lyndale Ave and Penn Ave. Take Metro Transit: Routes 5, 14, 22, 30, C Line, D Line, micro.

Open Streets Lyndale, Sunday, October 8, 11 am to 5 pm; Lyndale Ave S between 22nd St and 42nd St. Take Metro Transit: Routes 2, 4, 6, 21, 23.