The City of Fort Collins will host its ninth annual Open Streets event from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. This free community event will transform south Shields Street from west Mountain Avenue to west Lake Street into a vibrant, car-free public space featuring a wide variety of family-friendly activities.
South Shields Street from west Mountain Avenue to west Lake Street will be closed to all traffic, including vehicle crossings, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 15 to accommodate the event. West Mulberry Street will remain open to east-west traffic at south Shields Street.
Following a ribbon cutting by Mayor Jeni Arndt at 9:45 a.m. at west Elizabeth and south Shields streets, Open Streets attendees can enjoy a day of live music, interactive arts and cultural experiences, hourly fitness sessions, food and dessert trucks and other activities and tables from local vendors. Live art will take place at Pitkin and Shields streets, where artist Terry McNerney uses paint to turn a transformer cabinet into a work of art.
“Open Streets is designed to advocate for safer streets by encouraging active modes of transportation such as walking, biking and skating,” says AnnMarie Kirkpatrick, City of Fort Collins active modes specialist. “This year’s route on Shields Street—a key arterial road that runs parallel to Colorado State University and serves as a gateway to local shops, restaurants and neighborhoods—highlights the importance of accessible, safe and shared public spaces.”
Since its inception in 2015, the city’s Open Streets events have aimed to demonstrate the benefits of car-free transportation.
“By opening the streets to people rather than vehicles, Open Streets promotes safe and active mobility, inclusive transportation and welcoming public spaces for everyone,” Kirkpatrick says. “One of the most memorable comments I’ve heard from an Open Streets participant was this is what makes Fort Collins great.’ Events like these create a ripple effect of positive impacts by bringing the community together.”
For all information about this year’s Open Streets event on Sept. 15, including an interactive map of the event’s vendors and activities along Shields Street, visit fcgov.com/openstreets. To volunteer at Open Streets, visit fcgov.com/openstreets to sign up.
Photo sourced from the City of Fort Collins Facebook page.
