by Healthy Mesa County Staff

“Don’t play in the street!” is something many of us heard as kids. As adults, some of us have probably used those same words with our children. But in Grand Junction on October 7 we have the chance to say, “Let’s all play in the street!”

From 10 am to 3 pm that Saturday, the City of Grand Junction’s Urban Trails Committee and Healthy Mesa County will be hosting the first Community Streets event in Mesa County. This free event is modeled on the Open Streets that happen around the US and the world, where “people traffic replaces car traffic, and streets become places where people of all ages, abilities, and background can come out and improve their health” (openstreetsproject.org).

During Community Streets, 10^th Street from Belford to Main Street, and Main Street from 10th Street to 7th Street will be closed to non-local motorized vehicle traffic (Grand and Gunnison Avenues will be open for cross traffic).  You’ll find fun family-friendly activities all along the route and at Washington Park, such as a bike rodeo, food trucks, games, entertainment, giveaways and informational booths.

It’s also an easy way to connect from North Avenue and CMU (the Mavericks play Black Hills State at 1 pm) to the rest of the Downtown fun that’s happening that day:

• The Downtown Art Festival, including installation of the 2017 Art On The Corner temporary exhibit as well as artists and performances at Downtown galleries and businesses
• Mesa County Public Libraries’ Comic Con at Two Rivers Convention Center
• Mural painting at the 4^th Street parking garage
• Block Party at The Factory, Grand Junction’s new coworking space, and community hub
• aRT on the Riverfront Trail installation

Here in Mesa County, we have some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the West, with rivers, mountains, canyons and desert within easy reach. These assets no doubt will help the City of Grand Junction realize its goal to be the most livable community west of the Rockies by 2025. But we also have great outdoor opportunities literally right outside our own front doors, on our streets and sidewalks, in our parks and school playgrounds, and with our neighbors in our neighborhoods.

Community Streets helps bring people together and encourages them to incorporate biking, walking, physical activity, and active transportation choices into their everyday lives.  Ride your bike, push your stroller, hop on a skateboard, lace up your walking shoes and join us for all kinds of Community Streets fun on October 7.

It’s not every day you get to say, “Let’s play in the street!”