Portions of several streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday, August 25, to allow residents to “bike and walk” along West Hartford’s seventh “Center Streets.”
By Ronni Newton
The West Hartford community can once again “take to the streets” by bike, scooter, stroller or foot at the seventh annual Center Streets Block Festival, hosted by Bike West Hartford, scheduled for Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Organizers expect this year’s event to attract more visitors than last year, when around 2,000 people attended the family-friendly Open Streets festival.
An event that organizer Ethan Frankel calls a “block party on wheels,” it’s open to people of all ages, but while two- and three-wheelers are very welcome — and unicycles are, of course, welcome — motorized four-wheelers are not allowed in the cordoned-off area for the car-free Center Streets morning.
“This is not a bike tour with a destination, but it is about the joy, the Streets for 4 hours with no parked or moving cars,” Frankel said in the announcement.
Thanks to the assistance of the West Hartford Police Department and the Department of Public Works, the portions of Farmington Avenue, South Main Street, Memorial Road Extension and LaSalle Road that form a rectangular loop through the central business district will be closed to vehicle traffic for the entire event, allowing participants to ride bicycles or scooters or walk on car-free streets.
Activities during Center Streets include live music from Suburban Escape Plan and a performance by giant puppets from Hartford’s Nightfall Show.
Children can also play in the street – with games set up and plenty of hula hoops, chalk and soap bubbles.
Area restaurants are offering specials and Larsen Ace Hardware is handing out popcorn.
“Stop and chat with neighbors, friends and sponsors. Stop by the Blue Back Farmers Market one block away in the West Hartford City Hall parking lot,” organizers said.
Center Streets has become a much-anticipated end-of-summer tradition for many of the city’s residents. The event is a community initiative of Bike West Hartford, Inc., a nonprofit organization that advocates for bike-friendly policies, programs and infrastructure in the city. Like similar events that have popped up in other communities, it was inspired by “Summer Streets,” an event that traditionally takes place in New York City on three Saturdays in August.
Financial support for this year’s Center Streets event is provided by local businesses and residents. Gold sponsors for the 2024 event are PeoplesBank, Metro Realty and DORO Restaurant Group. Silver sponsors are Modern Tire and Jason Wang. Bronze sponsors are West Hartford Orthodontics, Berkshire Bike and Board, Play It Again Sports, Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center, Mario Russo Insurance, Daswani Clothiers, Acure Eco Salon, Bergenn Financial, Keating Agency, Mathnasium and Harvest.
“Pull out your bikes, scooters and strollers and meet at Center Streets!” said the organizers.
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