Eugene Sunday Streets: New Event Promotes Community, Active Lifestyle

Left: Tentative route map for Eugene Sunday Streets on Sept. 18.

This will be a fun, free event featuring two activity centers along the route at two of Eugene’s major parks (Washington-Jefferson Park and Skinner Butte Park). Activities include live music stages and fitness classes, hula hooping, dancing and much more. With no designated start or finish, the two-way route will be enjoyed by feet, bicycle, roller skate, skateboarding or dancing at everyone’s own pace. The event is designed to get the entire community outside, having fun, enjoying healthy activities in Eugene’s public spaces while showing how easy it is to get around without a car.

Eugene Sunday Streets will highlight the many amenities and local businesses along the route from downtown to the Whiteaker neighborhood. Neighbors are encouraged to limit or postpone driving between noon and 4 p.m. on the day of the event. However there will be a number of designated intersections where residents can access their homes and local businesses.

Eugene Sunday Streets draws much of its inspiration from Bogatá, Colombia, where every Sunday more than 70 miles of roadway are opened as Ciclovías, car-free spaces for people to walk, bike, skate, dance and utilize the roadways in countless creative and active ways. “Open Streets” events also are popular in the U.S., where more than 40 communities have some version of “Open Streets” events.

This event is presented by the City of Eugene.  To volunteer or learn more about Eugene Sunday Streets please go to: www.smarttripseugene.com/sunday-streets or contact the City of Eugene Transportation Planning Office at (541) 501-0390 or SundayStreets@ci.eugene.or.us.