Center City District will be presenting its third edition of Open Streets starting April 6, writes Sandy Smith for Philadelphia Magazine.
The initiative is a pedestrian takeover of Rittenhouse Row, where walkers can enjoy the freedom of the city. To do so, the area will go car-free from Broad to 19th streets and along 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust streets.
To keep it consistent with the two previous iterations, retailers with businesses along those streets will extend their stores out into the roadway for more to experience. In addition, the restaurants and bars in the area will be setting up tables and grills in the street.
Individuals, families, shoppers, and passersby will also be able to enjoy acoustic music, dancers, and more.
The Open Streets initiative has proven successful each time.
According to Center City District data, nearly 20 percent of businesses reported more foot traffic to their stores during the first go-round with an average of 86 percent. The second time reported more than half saw an increase of about 24 percent.
“From the moment we closed the street on that first Open Streets Sunday, it was clear that we had created something special,” Prema Katari Gupta, president and CEO of CCD.
Open Streets will run every Sunday in April.
Read more about Open Streets and how it has impacted Center City District in Philadelphia Magazine.
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