Save the date! Open Streets Oakley is coming back!
❃ Please bookmark this page for reference: We'll be posting updates as they develop! ❃
The Oakley Neighborhood Association and Asheville on Bikes, in partnership with AARP, the City of Asheville, and Land of Sky, announces the second Open Streets Oakley at Thompson St. to be held on Sunday June 12, 2022 from 12-5pm.
What is an Open Streets event?
Open Streets events help residents answer the question: How would our neighborhood and city be different with more sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways, and streets we could safely share with vehicles?
"Open Streets are programs that temporarily open streets to people by closing them to cars." (OpenStreetsProject.org) Open Streets events are designed to help residents change how they think about, use and view streets and other public spaces in their neighborhood by temporarily closing those areas to vehicular traffic and redesigning and reconfiguring to include:
Pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly throughways.
Park-like areas featuring fun learning, recreational and other activities.
Demonstrations of traffic-calming and safer multi-modal/mixed-access solutions.
Areas for neighborhood businesses and organizations to promote themselves.
Opportunities for residents to think about, explore and experience their public spaces from a new perspective.
The goal of Open Streets is to improve quality of life by bringing people together to create healthier, more vibrant, and more equitable communities. For the Oakley Neighborhood Association, that means finding ways to create safer, more enjoyable, and more connected neighborhood walkability, to increase multimodal transit options for improved accessibility and environmental sustainability, and to showcase the unique and diverse local businesses, community resources, and ecological habitats Oakley has to offer.
Location:
Open Streets Oakley will be held on Thompson St. between Glendale Ave. and Stoner St.
We will be closing off Thompson St. between the Glendale and Stoner street intersections. Alternate routes to businesses and other locations on Thompson will be open. Click on the map below to view a live Google Map of street closures (with alternate accesses marked), but be aware the layout and closure points may change as we get closer to the event.
Activities and Food:
The Spring 2022 Open Streets Oakley event will feature:
Nearby local food trucks and restaurants
A fire truck and crew from Oakley neighborhood’s Station 9
ONA fundraiser quilt raffle
Tree Keepers native tree raffles
Outdoor yoga classes hosted by Shannon Cornelius from Yoga in the Yard @2pm
Asheville on Bike’s mobile bike park (a fan favorite at our inaugural event!)
A KidCycle Club activity area
A booth for safe disposal of unused drugs/medicines
Areas for chalk painting
And much, much more!
Picnics, games, and other outdoor activities are also encouraged! The community is invited to set up a blanket or chairs in the middle of the street, hop on their bikes, blades, boards, skates, and one-wheels, or bring other outdoor games and equipment along and enjoy this car-free community gathering space.
(Please DON'T bring alcohol or illegal substances, because we do NOT have ABC permits. But there are two pretty cool breweries *right there,* just saying.)
Plus! At this year's event we'll also be unveiling our new
Oakley Neighborhood flag, logo, and other Oakley branding
as part of our 2022 Oakley Neighborhood Association relaunch!
Stop by the ONA booth to learn more about the community improvement projects we're working on and how you can get involved.
Restrooms:
This year's Open Streets event is New and Improved! Now with onsite porta-potties! 😁
So you can come out, kick back, and stay the entire day to enjoy everything our Open Streets events has to offer! (An accessible privy model will be available.)
Get Involved!
✔︎ For more information and questions about the event itself or about participating in the event, please contact the Oakley Neighborhood Association.
✔︎ We will need volunteers to help organize, set up, clean up on the 16th. If you can help out during the event, please sign up on our Open Streets Oakley Volunteer Form.
✔︎ Please visit and share the Open Streets Oakley Facebook event page with your friends - everyone is welcome to join in the fun!
This is a neighborhood event, we'd love to hear your suggestions!
If you have an idea we haven't thought of, please reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
THANK YOU! to all of our partners who are making this event possible!
