The impetus for Sundays on the Boulevard follows the City’s public works project last year that kept the Boulevard closed to cars for eight months. The program is part of a growing number of open street projects, in which streets are closed temporarily to auto traffic so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing and socializing. There are more than 100 documented initiatives across North America, according to the Open Streets Project.
“We hope to capitalize on the momentum that was created when the Boulevard was closed last year to cars during our public works project,” said Michael Bobinsky, Portland’s Director of Public Services. “People really took advantage of the roadway during this time and enjoyed it as a recreational space. This is just a formal extension of that.”
This program complements the City’s recently adopted Complete Streets policy, which aims to make streets more bike and pedestrian friendly. When Public Services undertakes redesigns of new roadways, pedestrians and cyclists are incorporated into the planning process.
“We already changed people’s behavior last year, so we feel this is the perfect time to give this effort another try,” said Kara Wooldrik, executive director of Portland Trails. “These programs are growing across the country. They really help to showcase various modes of transportation and connect people to streets.”
In addition to the City, the effort is sponsored by the Back Cove Neighborhood Association, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Healthy Portland and Portland Trails.
For more information, residents can call 207.874.8801 or visit www.boulevardsundays.com.
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