Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney joined other city officials Friday to announce the open route for this year’s Philly Free Streets event, the place where no cars go.
After banning cars for the day along South Street last year in a move inspired by the closed streets around the papal visit, this year, the city will be moving cars off a 3.5-mile route from Old City to the Fairhill neighborhood of North Philadelphia from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.
“Philly Free Streets temporarily closes streets to cars, inviting people to walk, bike and play,” the city says on the event’s website.
“Philly Free Streets will transform our streets into a safe environment for physical activity and learning and further my commitment to improving neighborhoods and bettering the futures of children,” Kenney said.
There is no formal starting point on the route that goes from 3rd and Chestnut streets to N 5th Street and Indiana Avenue. People can join in anywhere on the route along 3rd, 4th and 5th streets and Germantown Avenue that passes through Northern Liberties, Kensington and other neighborhoods on the way.
“The City of Philadelphia is committed to finding new and innovative ways to use our streets,” Mike Carroll, Philadelphia’s deputy managing director for transportation & infrastructure systems, said. “Philly Free Streets will bring people together to experience our streets in a new way, while having fun, being social, and engaging in healthy activities.”
The 2017 program, where no cars will be allowed on the roads during the day is being sponsored by Visit Philadelphia, AARP Pennsylvania and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
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