Open Streets Macon returns Sunday with new route in Pleasant Hill neighborhood

Open Streets Macon, an initiative of Bike Walk Macon, will return with a new route in Pleasant Hill from 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

This route will celebrate the historic Pleasant Hill neighborhood by activating Pursley Street, 3rd Avenue and Ward Street.

The Open Streets Macon initiative is inspired by a world-class program proven to positively impact healthy behavior by repurposing existing public streets and providing access to free recreation space.

People-traffic will replace car-traffic as 0.8 miles of streets will become “paved parks” where people of all ages, abilities and social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds can get active and connect with their community and each other. The new route is one of two in 2022 and will be followed up with a second initiative on Walnut/Clayton Streets Nov. 6.

Open Streets Macon welcomes the entire community to explore the route and connect with neighbors along the route this Sunday. Attendees can hop on the route at any point — there is no start or end — and experience Open Streets Macon at their own pace.

More than 30 local organizations and businesses will offer free, engaging experiences along the route. Some of the highlighted activities include the 4th Annual Pleasant Hill Grill-off, Best Friends Doggy Day Care pet photo booth, BCSO’s Book ‘Em book giveaway, drum performances by Streetline Percussion, cornhole games, pickleball demonstrations and various family-friendly activities in and around St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. A full list of activities can be found at www.openstreetsmacon.com/pleasanthill.

“Open Streets Macon provides opportunities for our kids to showcase their talents within selected neighborhoods, in which a few of our members reside. “ says Streetline Founder and Director, Cedavean Waller. “It’s opportunities like Open Streets that bring awareness of social safety, family fun activities, and comradery from various organizations.”

During Open Streets Macon and the weeks following the activation, Bike Walk Macon will also lead several traffic calming interventions around the Pleasant Hill neighborhood to improve the safety and connectivity along and near the route in partnership with the Macon Reimaging the Civic Commons Committee and Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Organization. This will include a street cleanup led by Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful, a sensory sidewalk pathway at L. H. Williams, and several pedestrian and bicycling improvements along Walnut St.

To find more information about the program and view a map and full list of activity partners, visit www.openstreetsmacon.com and follow the event on Facebook (Open Streets Macon).

This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 7:00 AM.