Authorizing the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings examining the opportunities presented by regular Open Streets events in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Open Streets events, which temporarily reroute vehicle traffic away from pre-designated streets, provide citizens with new and exciting opportunities to engage their neighbors and neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, The September 2015 Papal Visit, which resulted in a de facto Open Streets weekend for the residents of Center City, increased bicycle and pedestrian mobility while also allowing for a variety of spontaneous neighborhood events. These opportunities captured the imaginations of many of the City’s residents, sparking the desire for increased Open Streets initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Open Streets events have the potential to aid the City’s environmental sustainability and public health initiatives by stimulating public interest in pedestrian and bicycle transportation throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation’s limited Open Streets initiative, centered around the Art Museum and Martin Luther King Drive, has helped to spawn some of the City’s most popular outdoor events; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphians from neighborhoods all over the City share a strong tradition of hosting neighborhood block parties, particularly during the summer months. These events help bring families of all backgrounds together and create a sense of community that ought to be fostered within our City; and

WHEREAS, Open Streets events create unique opportunities for local businesses and artisans to engage with new customers, such as when a disabled truck blocked off several blocks of South 20th Street to vehicle traffic. When interviewed, many business owners in the area expressed their delight with this accidental Open Streets experiment and its effect on their business that day; and

WHEREAS, Proper planning and execution can help ensure the success of these events for all residents within the City; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings examining the opportunities presented by regular Open Streets events in the City of Philadelphia.

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