Open Streets Minneapolis events

Open Streets events are

• Free for participants
• Not competitive (are not races)
• Do not have a designated beginning or end point. This means people that attend can join and exit at any location along route

The Open Streets Minneapolis initiative is unique to Minneapolis. It is not affiliated with other state, national, or international Open Streets initiatives.

Open Streets Minneapolis events have the following features:

Take place on major urban corridors

These events happen on corridors (streets, roads) that mostly serve motorized traffic. This includes streets that tend to act as business and commercial corridors.

Connect many neighborhoods

• Open Streets events allow nearby neighborhoods to connect.
• Especially neighborhoods that may feel isolated from each other due to:
• Land use patterns
• High-volume roadways

Foot traffic for local businesses

The events encourage visitors the discover businesses along the route. This supports local economic vitality.

Strong destinations

Open Streets have strong destinations such as

• Parks
• Major businesses
• Areas of programming

Occur over many blocks of City streets

Ideally, Open Streets events span over two miles in length.

Different types of routes

Organizers design Open Streets events in different arrangements. While historically linear, routes can also be in a loop or with an “arm and loop”

How Open Streets has influenced City departments

Many departments have used Open Streets Minneapolis to further their missions. Open Streets Minneapolis goals align with City department's goals. It holds potential for growing partnerships.

Minneapolis Health Department

The Minneapolis Health Department, for example, has a mission to Improve the quality of life for all people in the City by

• Protecting the environment
• Preventing disease and injury
• Promoting healthy behaviors
• Creating a city that is a healthy place to live, work, and play

The Health Department has also

• Led the community engagement and planning around the North Minneapolis Greenway Project.
• Helped to develop an Open Streets route along one of the proposed corridors. They did this to allow people to experience what the future Greenway may feel like

Minneapolis Police Department (MPD)

The Minneapolis Police Department exists to

• Provide quality and professional service in partnership with all communities and
• Continue to advance the City's safety, growth and viability

MPD uses Open Streets Minneapolis to further goals around community interaction. Open Streets allows MPD to promote public safety and public trust.

Permitting process

When Open Streets Minneapolis started

The City approved it through the block event permit process. We use this permit type for a range of street events that need traffic control.

For the first two years of the initiative

The City required:

• Written signature
• Approval of 75 percent of adjacent property owners along the routes

To receive approval for the Open Streets routes:

The organizer worked closely with the City Block Event / Special Event (BESE) Committee. The process was long and tough. The proposed routes were longer than any event that has needed Block Event permit before.

Approval process changes in 2013

After accepting the Play Streets Grant:

We worked with the BESE Committee and other partners to develop a new process. This process did not need the written approval of the adjacent property owners.

With enough buy-in from local representatives and partner organizations:

We provided at least one round of door-hanger notifications to adjacent properties.