SomerStreets

SomerStreets. An annual series of community-focused "Open Streets" festivals organized by the City of Somerville in partnership with local organizations. The program, inspired by similar initiatives like Ciclovía in Bogotá, temporarily closes major thoroughfares to vehicular traffic, transforming them into public spaces for recreation, cultural activities, and civic engagement. Each event is themed and located in a different neighborhood, promoting active transportation, local business, and community connection across the city's diverse wards.

History

The SomerStreets program was launched in 2012 under the administration of Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone as a key component of the city's SomerVision comprehensive plan and its Shape Up Somerville public health initiative. Its creation was influenced by the growing international open streets movement and successful models in other U.S. cities, such as Summer Streets in New York City. Early support came from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and local advocacy groups like Somerville Bicycle Committee and WalkBoston. The inaugural events focused on corridors like Broadway and Highland Avenue, establishing a template of free, family-oriented programming that has expanded over subsequent years.

Event details

SomerStreets events are typically held on select Sundays from spring through fall, with routes spanning several city blocks. Past locations have included East Somerville's McGrath Highway, Union Square along Somerville Avenue, and a "River Fest" along the Mystic River near the Assembly Row development. Programming is curated by the Somerville Arts Council and city departments, featuring a diverse array of activities such as live music stages, dance performances, fitness classes led by local studios like Brickbottom artists, and interactive art installations. The events also highlight local vendors, food trucks, and community groups such as the Somerville Homeless Coalition and the Somerville Public Library, while city departments like the Somerville Fire Department offer demonstrations and safety education.

Impact and reception

The program has been widely praised for fostering community cohesion and supporting the local economy, with studies noting increased foot traffic and sales for businesses along the routes. It has received positive coverage from regional media outlets including the Boston Globe and WBUR. SomerStreets has also served as a public demonstration for urban planning projects, notably providing a vision for the redesign of McGrath Highway and promoting the Community Path Extension. The events have bolstered Somerville's reputation as a leader in progressive urban policy, earning recognition from organizations like the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Critically, the initiative is credited with encouraging resident input on public space design and normalizing the use of streets for purposes beyond automobile transit.

Future and related initiatives

The future of SomerStreets is integrated into broader municipal frameworks like the Somerville Climate Forward plan, aiming to expand events and permanently reclaim street space for people. Related city projects include the ongoing development of the Somerville Community Path network, tactical urbanism projects under the Somerville Mobility Division, and the creation of new public plazas. The program also aligns with regional efforts like the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's encouragement of active transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's transit-oriented development goals. Similar events in neighboring municipalities, such as Open Streets in Cambridge and festivals in Medford, reflect a growing metropolitan movement toward participatory urbanism inspired by SomerStreets' model. Category:Recurring events established in 2012 Category:Festivals in Massachusetts Category:Somerville, Massachusetts