OPEN STREETS
Reimagining streets through the eyes of pedestrians.
OVERVIEW
Open Streets began in the 1970's in Bogota, Colombia, to demonstrate what can happen when streets are reimagined through the eyes of pedestrians and alternative modes of transportation.
We produced the inaugural and second annual year in Detroit, joining over 200 cities globally. In doing so, we connected three culturally diverse neighborhoods along the route, attracting 15,000+ attendees, 110+ program partners, 250 volunteers, 100 police officers, dozens of local businesses along the route, and 20+ local vendors.
Open Streets by the Numbers
15,000+
ATTENDEES
110
PROGRAM PARTNERS
250
VOLUNTEERS
PROJECT TEAM
The two-day event was hosted by Downtown Detroit Partnership and MoGo.
We produced the event in partnership with Human Scale Studio, working with dozens of local vendors, including good done daily (branding), Nick Hagen (photography).
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f541db468bd6f19d4787435/1610038950315-WA5NQDFG56AQX71HKLWV/Curbed_open_streets_detroit.0.jpg)
OUR APPROACH
Open Streets is premised on natural diversity — connecting a variety of backgrounds, programs, landscapes and transportation modes. We selected a route which connected a bustling Downtown, Corktown — Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, and Southwest Detroit, boasting a rich cultural history as home to Latinx communities, restaurants and dense retail. This was made possible by partnering with community organizers in each neighborhood to introduce the event, be a resource to established businesses along the route, and to recruit program partners.
To support the vision for a free, family-oriented experience, we concentrated services (volunteer stations, restrooms, first aid) in to hubs, and anchored spontaneous and scheduled programming throughout the day.
PRESS
Open Streets settles into Southwest Detroit for a third year
Open Streets Detroit expands programming with Rouge Park event this July
Detroit Free Press / September 13, 2016
Open Streets Detroit aims for fun, new uses for roads
Michigan Chronicle / June 28, 2018
Open Streets Detroit expands to Rouge Park
The Detroit News / July 1, 2016
Detroit seeks to try out car-free streets
Crains Detroit / September 13, 2016