Save the Date For 'Open Streets Watsonville' - A Car-Free, Pop-Up Street and Park Event

Announcement submitted from Open Streets Santa Cruz County:

Open Streets Santa Cruz County is hosting Open Streets Watsonville, on Sunday, May 17 on Brennan/Union Street between Callaghan Park and the City Plaza.

This car-free, community event will create a “pop-up park” where people can walk, bike, skate, dance and play in the street. This stretch of road will be temporarily closed to cars (except at two Highway 152 crossing points at E. Lake and E. Beach Streets, which will remain open to motor vehicle traffic).

The event is free and open to everyone to come and get some healthy exercise, explore a variety of family-friendly activities, art, live music, educational outreach booths, or to just wander down the street!

According to Saskia Lucas, OSSCC founder and director, “People love Open Streets because they get to use the streets in a way that is normally off-limits to them. They feel excited to bike and play safely without having to worry about cars.”

Santa Cruz County joins cities across the US and internationally that are opening streets to people to promote health, community and provide new recreational opportunities for residents. Visit www.OpenStreetsProject.org to learn more.

Open Streets Santa Cruz County (OSSCC) is a non-profit program launched in 2012. OSSCC has partnered with the Watsonville Youth City Council, which will be holding its 2nd Annual Teen Day event at the City Plaza in conjunction with Open Streets Watsonville (OSW).

OSW planning committee members include: City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, El Pájaro Community Development Corporation, Santa Cruz METRO Transit District, United Way/Jovenes Sanos, People Power/Greenways to School, Ecology Action/Safe Routes to School, Streetwise PR, Watsonville Youth City Council, Mariposa’s Arts, Trips for Kids, as well as other community based organizations.

Major funding for this event comes from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the CalTrans Active Transportation Program. OSSCC is fiscally sponsored by Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, Inc.

The first Open Streets pilot in Santa Cruz County took place in October 2012 on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Participants got the unprecedented opportunity to roll, stroll and play safely on a two-mile stretch of West Cliff Drive with family, friends and neighbors. Both the first and second annual West Cliff events drew over 9,000 participants each and generated a groundswell of excitement for future events.

The 3rd Annual Open Streets Santa Cruz will take place on Sunday, October 11.

To sponsor Open Streets Watsonville, volunteer (many are needed), or to learn more about the event visit: www.scopenstreets.org.

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