Ciclovia - Sunday Parkway coming to Kansas City Sunday, May 16

Ciclovia--the street festival where cities close down miles of streets and residents come out to enjoy walking, bicycling, scootering, skating, and all other manner of fun physical activity--is coming to Missouri in a big way this summer and Kansas City is among the first cities in the state to host an event.

Sunday Parkways on Cliff Drive will take place on May 16, 2010, from 12-4pm. Attendees can participate in human-powered activities while enjoying a free, festival-like atmosphere along a 4-mile route.

It's very family-oriented," says Deb Ridgway with the City of Kansas City, Missouri Public Works. "It's a way to get people out and see their neighbors and make a broader connection with the community."

Kansas City's Car Free Weekends on Cliff Drive are entering their third year and have been a very successful program. By removing cars from the drive on weekends, more citizens are able to enjoy bicycling and walking and crime has been reduced significantly. With two years of successful Car Free Weekends under their belt, Kansas City Parks and Recreation together with Public Works decided to take one Car Free day and turn it into a true Ciclovia.

The inaugural Sunday Parkways event will feature culturally diverse entertainment ranging from bands and a StoryWalk, to Zumba classes and a photography field trip, chalk art to dog shows and other outdoor-friendly activities.

"It's about getting people active and enjoying our beautiful park and boulevard system," says Heidi Downer with the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation.

The festival will also serve as the opening event of the annual Kansas City Bike Week. As the city's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, Ridgway said her goal is to eventually see Kansas City achieve platinum designation as a bicycle-friendly city.

"These are the types of events we need to sponsor as a city to achieve that kind of recognition," she said.

Sunday Parkways Street Closures and Route

Open Streets, May 1st, 2010, St Louis

The westbound lane of Gladstone Boulevard, between Cliff Drive and Belmont Boulevard, will be closed from 11:30am- 4:30pm on Sunday, May 16. The eastbound lane will remain open for one-way traffic.

On Cliff Drive, activities will take place between the Kansas City Museum and East Gladstone entrances; additional activities will take place on Gladstone Boulevard from the Kansas City Museum to Indian Mound.The route is a 4 mile-loop.

Sunday Parkways Schedule of Events

• 12:00pm: Bike Week Kickoff Program, Indian Mound
• 12:00pm: Free hot dogs and Pepsi to the first 500 participants, Carl Di Capo Fountain
• 12:00-4:00pm: Bike Safety Inspections by Revolve Inc., Area 3
• 12:00-4:00pm: Dog Show, Tricks and Frisbee Skills by Sit Means Sit, Area 4
• 12:00-4:00pm: Puppets by StoneLion Puppet Theatre, Roving
• 12:00-4:00pm: Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall open, 3218 Gladstone
• 12:00-4:00pm: Face Painting by Westside Housing Organization, Area 1
• 12:00-4:00pm: Kansas City Zoo, Area 1
• 12:00-4:00pm: Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association booth, Area 2
• 

  Open Streets St Louis, May 1st, 2010
  12:00-4:00pm: Coloring with Don Bosco Community Center, Area 2
• 12:00-4:00pm: Northeast Arts KC art activities and chalk art, Area 5
• 12:00-4:00pm: Decorate Paper Sunglasses with Mosaic Brain, Area 5
• 12:00-4:00pm: StoryWalk, "Clap Your Hands" by Lorinda Bryan Cauley, Cliff Drive entrance by KC Museum
• 12:00-4:00pm: Book Game by the KC Public Library, end of StoryWalk
• 12:00-4:00pm: Vintage Bike Riders, Roving 12:00pm: Garrison Community Center musical performance, KC Museum Stage
• 12:30pm: The Dance Revolution, KC Museum Stage 1:00pm: Garrison Community Center musical performance, KC Museum Stage
• 1:00-2:00pm: History Walk and Talk with Michael Bushnell, meet at KC Museum
• 2:00pm: Photography Field Trip (bring your camera) guided by the Green Exposures Committee, meet by Cliff Drive entrance by KC Museum 1:00-3:00pm: School of Rock Band, Indian Mound 2:00-4:00pm: The Good Sam Club Band, KC Museum Stage
• 2:00-4:00pm: The Bobcats Band, Area 5
• 3:00pm: Mayor Mark Funkhouser Speaks, Indian Mound
• 3:00-3:40pm: Zumba Demonstration and Mini Class by Lisa Ruiz, Indian Mound