BIKE WALK MACON PARTNERS WITH MACON-BIBB COUNTY FOR OPEN STREETS MACON: HOUSTON AVE.

Open Streets Macon will return earlier than usual this year. Bike Walk Macon is bringing the popular community initiative that takes place each fall to a new neighborhood this spring in partnership with the Macon-Bibb County District 2 Community Family.

Maconites will be treated to four blocks of car-free streets to celebrate Houston Ave. from Villa Crest Ave. to Lynmore Ave. on Sunday, March 12, 2023, from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Open Streets Macon is designed to give people the opportunity to experience vibrant, people-oriented streets while encouraging engagement with the immediate neighborhood communities located on and around the route. By temporarily closing the street to motorized vehicles, people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can get together to re-imagine how we use our public spaces. Citizens are encouraged to enjoy Macon’s streets by bringing their bicycles, strollers, skateboards, hula-hoops, and pets, and enjoying a variety of art, music, and wellness activities along the entire car-free route. 

This 2023 route has been selected with input and support from District 2 Commissioner, Paul Bronson, and the need to focus on areas within our community that have often been overlooked.

“Houston Avenue is a major artery in the blood flow of this city and should be intentionally cared for, and this is one of the many steps to show that we do. Having the opportunity to see and volunteer with Bike Walk Macon’s Open Streets initiative opened my eyes to a different approach to teaching and shifting the minds of our community when it comes to pedestrian and bike safety. I believe that this event will do the same for our children, families, and business owners in the area while opening the door of discussion for future projects,” says Commissioner Bronson.

"Bike Walk Macon has been very supportive in our mission to educate our citizens about pedestrian and cyclist safety. The Open Streets initiative indirectly and in many cases directly influences the call for stop signs, speed-calming devices, and a number of actions taken by our government to ensure the safety of our community," continues Commissioner Bronson. "Hosting the Open Street Macon event on Houston Avenue can bridge the gap, build a healthier community, and bring our city closer."

Open Streets Macon welcomes the entire community to explore the route and connect with neighbors. Attendees can hop on the route at any point –there is no start or end –and experience reimagined streets at their own pace. Local organizations and businesses will offer participatory experiences along the route and in activity hubs.

Want to get involved with Open Streets Macon? 

• Organize an activity on the day  |  Participants will have the opportunity to take part in free activities such as sports, exercise classes and other health and wellness activities. Open Streets Macon will be seeking residents, businesses and community partners to provide programming such as yoga, dance, basketball and kid- and senior-friendly activities along the route. www.openstreetsmacon.com/activitypartners 

• Join the volunteer team  |  In order to make this a safe and enjoyable event for all, Open Streets Macon needs dozens of dedicated volunteers to help bring the streets of Macon to life. www.openstreetsmacon.com/volunteer

For more information about Open Streets Macon and partnership opportunities, visit www.openstreetsmacon.com. For questions and media inquiries, contact Kaylee Pruitt at kaylee@bikewalkmacon.com or 478-832-3324.

ANNOUNCING THE 2022 OPEN STREETS MACON DATES AND ROUTES!

Now in its seventh year, Bike Walk Macon will partner with the Pleasant Hill and Vineville neighborhoods to activate and transform two new Open Streets Macon routes in 2022!

Open Streets Macon invites Maconites to reclaim public streets once again this fall. The movement will close the streets to cars and open them to people as the popular, community-driven initiative returns in 2022 on Sundays, October 2nd and November 6th, from 2 to 5 pm. 

Organized by Bike Walk Macon, Open Streets Macon temporarily closes streets to motorized vehicles, bringing people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds together to re-imagine how we use our public streets. Citizens are encouraged to enjoy Macon’s streets by bringing their bicycles, strollers, skateboards, hula-hoops, and pets and enjoying a variety of art, music, and wellness activities along the entire route. 

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2  |  PLEASANT HILL  |  2 TO 5 PM  |  0.8 MILE

This route will celebrate the Historic Pleasant Hill neighborhood along Pursley St., 3rd Ave., and Ward St. Nearby points of interest connecting to this route include the St. Peter Claver Catholic School, LH Williams Elementary School, the Little Richard House, and Jefferson Long Park. Pleasant Hill residents Tedra Huston, Tonja Khabir, and Erion Smith will serve as the neighborhood champions for this route.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6  |  WALNUT/CLAYTON ST.  |  2 TO 5 PM  |  1.3 MILES

This route will connect the historic Pleasant Hill and Vineville neighborhoods along Walnut St., Clayton St., Buford Pl., and Oak Haven Ave. Featured points of interest connecting to this route include Linear Park, Oak Haven Park, Ingleside Village, and Vineville Academy. Vineville residents Brad Coman and Caitlin Mee and Pleasant Hill residents Tedrea Huston, Tonja Khabir, and Erion Smith will serve as neighborhood champions for this route.

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These routes were designed with input from Pleasant Hill and Vineville residents and selected based on Bike Walk Macon’s 2022 priorities to (1) improve connectivity between the Pleasant Hill neighborhood and Ocmulgee Heritage Trail and (2) improve bikeability and walkability along Walnut St., an important corridor that connects both neighborhoods to Downtown Macon. In the months leading up to Open Streets Macon, Bike Walk Macon will also be leading several traffic calming interventions to improve the safety and connectivity along and near the routes in partnership with the Macon Reimaging the Civic Commons Committee and Pleasant Hill and Vineville neighborhood associations.

“Open Streets is always a fun opportunity to play in the streets, but even further it’s also an important opportunity to build community. In so many ways it has helped us prompt discussions about public health and safety,” says Pleasant Hill resident and neighborhood champion, Tonja Khabir. “I can’t wait to see it back in Pleasant Hill to further support the strategic work we are doing here and to create safe and more sustainable neighborhoods across our city as well.”

Want to get involved with Open Streets Macon? 

• Organize an activity on the day  |  Participants will have the opportunity to take part in free activities, such as sports, exercise classes, and other health and wellness activities. Open Streets Macon will be seeking residents, businesses, and community partners to provide programming such as yoga, dance, basketball and kid- and senior-friendly activities along the route. www.openstreetsmacon.com/activitypartners 

• Join the volunteer team  |  In order to make this a safe and enjoyable event for all, Open Streets Macon needs dozens of dedicated volunteers to help bring the streets of Macon to life. www.openstreetsmacon.com/getinvolved

Brad Coman, Vineville resident and Walnut/Clayton St. neighborhood champion, says “Open Streets is an opportunity for us to connect with our neighbors to see part of our city transformed into a safer place for active transportation in all forms, something that everyone benefits from. Historic Vineville is excited to have the opportunity to connect and partner with our neighbors in Pleasant Hill to transform this space because Macon is better in every way when we work together.” 

For more information about Open Streets Macon and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.openstreetsmacon.com. For questions and media inquiries, contact Kaylee Pruitt at kaylee@bikewalkmacon.com or 478-832-3324.