Sunday Streets (also called “Open Streets”) closes streets to automobile traffic so that people can use the street for just about any activity other than driving. The streets become paved parks where people can come out and connect with their community in a new way. Sunday Streets promote public health, sustainability and community. It can change how people think about their city.
SUNDAY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN BERKELEY On October 14, 2012, we’re proposing to close Shattuck Avenue to cars in both directions for 16 blocks – Delaware to Derby. Except for major arterials, intersections on Shattuck would be closed to east-west traffic crossing Shattuck.
Sunday Streets would support local downtown businesses. It’s not a street fair - it would not have outside vendors and entertainment. Business storefronts would be unobstructed to allow access from the street and sidewalk. Downtown Arts organizations would be invited to showcase their work with performances in the diagonal parking bays.
Sunday Streets Berkeley is being proposed through a working committee of the Office of Mayor Tom Bates, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin and representatives of Livable Berkeley, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, the Downtown Berkeley Association and Buy Local Berkeley.
WHY WE NEED TO FUNDRAISE We need to raise $30,000 to pay for the costs of closing the street, staffing intersections, putting in barricades, notifying neighbors, promotion, set-up and clean-up – it adds up. Since there aren’t any vendors, it has to pay for itself.