Released: August 28, 2013
Contact: Ethan Spotts Jody Grimaldi
312.427.3325 x287 Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
312.919-1423 mobile 630.470.0044
[email protected] [email protected]
People take back the streets at Open Streets Sunday, September 15
Free pedestrian playground on 3 miles of car-free Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago
On Sunday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Active Transportation Alliance and the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA #33, administered by WPB Chamber of Commerce, invite you to experience the bliss of a car-free day along historic Milwaukee Ave.
All are welcome to get active by participating in yoga classes, fitness boot camp, hula-hooping and biking. Get your body fat tested at the Walgreens’ Way to Well bus, pick up some grub at the ALDI Rest Stop, or grab a beer at two Revolution Brewing locations. No matter your fancy, Open Streets is guaranteed to have something for everyone.
“Open Streets is a great way for the community to take back the streets and get some exercise,” said Josh Deth, owner of Revolution Brewing. “Revolution Brewing is proud to be a partner because we believe streets are for people.”
Here’s a sampling of theprogramming being offered by sponsors at the event:
- The Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP will have a bus providing free, personal health insights that may indicate symptoms and potential risks for cancer, heart disease and diabetes by testing total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index and a total weight analysis.
- ALDI Rest Stop at the 1767 N. Milwaukee ALDI location will offer participants free water and ALDI snacks throughout the day. Fresh produce and breakfast items will be available from 10 a.m. – noon, and grilled items, including hamburgers and hot dogs, will be offered from noon – 3 p.m.
- Revolution Brewing will host two pop up “People Spot” beer gardens. These locations will allow you to kick back and enjoy the day in an urban “backyard BBQ” style setting. The north location will have music provided by CHIRP Radio, while the other location’s jams will be courtesy of WXRT. All proceeds from the sale of beer benefits Active Transportation Alliance.
- Latent Design's collaboration with Kent State's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative brings a multi-colored inflatable architecture installation that has recently won the Activate Union Station placemaking competition. The amorphous soft sculpture will invite visitors to venture inside to experience a world reminiscent of childhood for spontaneous sharing and play.
- CorePower Yoga will offer free yoga classes perfect for beginners and seasoned yogis alike. Instructors will lead you through poses and breathing exercises. Stand like a tree, reach for the sun and feel the stress melt away.
- The Imagination Playground will once again allow children (and adults) to create anything they can dream up. Imagination Playground is an interactive, transformable environment that prompts children to manipulate their environment and create a play space of their own.
- Penguin Foot Pottery will be showing off the skills of seasoned potters, and will also have some instructional, hands-on demos.
- Free bike rentals provided by Bike and Roll Chicago
Learn more at http://openstreetschicago.org. Note about photos: please get in touch if you're interested in Open Streets photos.
The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce: The Wicker Park and Bucktown Chamber of Commerce serves as a cornerstone of the Wicker Park and Bucktown commercial districts, advancing the financial goals of neighborhood businesses through the creation of a dynamic economic climate, increasing the neighborhood's visibility and viability, and encouraging profitable relationships within the community. Read more at wickerparkbucktown.com.
WPB SSA #33: The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce administers the WPB Special Service Area (SSA #33). SSAs, often known as Business Improvement Districts in other cities, provide a fair and transparent way to finance and manage programs to create, maintain and manage clean, attractive and competitive commercial districts. The SSA is overseen by a Commission of 12 stakeholders in the SSA. The organization is guided by a Master Plan adopted in 2009 after extensive public input, and accomplishes its work through active committees.
The Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans) is an advocate for bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit riders in the Chicago region. Active Trans encourages transportation that promotes health, recreation, social interaction, equity, environmental stewardship and resource conservation. For more information about the Active Transportation Alliance, please visit www.activetrans.org.
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