Inaugural Open Streets Capitola

Sunday, May 4, 2014, 11 am-4 pm on Capitola Esplanade

Auto traffic will be blocked from the Esplanade from Stockton to Monterey Avenues, as well as on San Jose

Open Streets Capitola is presented by the City of Capitola, in partnership with Open Streets Santa Cruz County (OSSCC). OSSCC is a non-profit community event program, which launched in 2012. The mission of OSSCC is to: promote individual and community health through creative use of public space.

Open Streets Capitola will debut May 4th, creating a car-free “pop-up” park where people can walk, bike and play in the street. This community event is free and open to everyone to come and explore a variety of family-friendly activities, music and educational outreach booths, or just wander down the street!

Themes of the event are healthy communities and clean oceans and there will be myriad opportunities to experience both. Save our Shores will be looking for people to join them as they hit the street for a clean up. Those who prefer a bit of sand between the toes can join the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation for Beach Bingo, a scavenger hunt with a little ocean life education mixed into the fun.

Nothing builds community like dancing in the street and music. Sadza marimba, Plateau Dixieland Jazz and the ever-popular Ukulele Club will keep people’s toes tapping.

Activities for tiny tots include a bicycle obstacle course by Trips for Kids and bicycle spin art and chalk trails by Greenways to School. O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Aerial Arts Santa Cruz, and many more community presenters will be on hand to guide you in everything from hula hooping to understanding a watershed model.

According to Saskia Lucas, OSSCC director, “people love Open Streets because they get to use the streets in a way that is normally off-limits to them. They feel excited to bike and play safely without having to worry about cars.”

The first Open Streets pilot event took place in October of 2012 on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Participants got the unprecedented opportunity to roll, stroll and play safely on a two-mile stretch of West Cliff Drive with family and friends. Both the first and second annual West Cliff events drew over 9,000 participants and generated a groundswell of excitement for future events. The Third Annual Open Streets Santa Cruz will take place on Sunday, October 12, 2014. A new Open Streets Watsonville is also in the initial planning stages.

Santa Cruz County joins cities across the US and internationally which are opening streets to people to promote health, community and provide new recreational opportunities for residents. In 2007, there were only ten Open Streets initiatives in the US and now there are over 100 documented events. Visit www.OpenStreetsProject.org to learn more about the wider Open Streets movement.

Participants who walk, bike or take the bus to get to Open Streets on May 4th will get a free raffle entry to win a $500 gift certificate from Family Cycling Center. Free secure valet bicycle parking will be offered by People Power.

Many dedicated volunteers help make these events possible. Major funding support for Open Streets Capitola comes from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the California Coastal Conservancy.

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Photos of the 2012 Open Streets on West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. — Courtesy of Karen Kefauver.