Boston will be opening even more streets this season, city officials announced Tuesday, spreading the events showcasing neighborhoods’ arts and businesses further across the city.
“Last year tens of thousands of people experienced our streets as vibrant public spaces,” said Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge at an announcement at the Jackson Mann Community Center on Tuesday afternoon. “And we’re incredibly excited to expand Open Streets again this year into more neighborhoods so that more people can enjoy these special events.”
The Open Streets program, started in 2022, temporarily closes major streets in different neighborhoods to cars and allows pedestrians and local businesses to take part in various food, arts and other programming.
The program will continue events from last year in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Dorchester and expand into Allston-Brighton and East Boston. The long-running Open Newbury Street program, now expanded to every Sunday from July 2 to Oct. 15, will also resume.
The events will go from Centre Street in Jamaica Plain on June 25; Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury on July 15; Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue in Allston-Brighton on Aug. 19; Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester on Sept. 17; and end on Meridian Street in East Boston on Oct. 15. Location and time specifics are listed on the city’s website.
Speakers noted that these events encourage Bostonians to explore what each neighborhood has to offer and also promotes the small businesses that participate. All of the small businesses participating in the three events last year saw between 10-15% increases in sales, said Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu.
The planners noted the expanded opportunities at the events this year — from art installations to food trucks to local musicians to programs from nonprofits — reminding businesses and volunteers to sign up to get involved.
“My six-year-old niece reminded me that she wants more more of everything,” said Shana Bryant, of the planning vendor Shauna Bryant Consulting. “So more bubbles, more hula hoops, more music, more dancing, more food. And then my 60-year-old-plus parents have requested more pedicabs.”
The events, Bryant said, will be a “really big block party.”
“These are the most joyful experiences that you’ll have anywhere,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. … “I hope we’ll see that people taking the time to come to multiple of these, to get to know your city. Each neighborhood is a destination that’s truly special and unique.”