CLEVELAND — The Cleveland City Planning Commission on Friday announced that a small stretch of West 29th Street in the Ohio City neighborhood would be temporarily closed to traffic as the city explores creating a permanent pedestrian area.
From Saturday Aug. 24 through Sept. 8, West 29th Street will be closed between Clinton Avenue and Church Avenue, during which the area will be accessible to pedestrians as well as businesses and community institutions hosting "a number of free events," the city said in a press release.
“The goal is for West 29th Street to become a Street for People — a street that is open for public use free of car traffic,” said Joyce P. Huang, director of the City Planning Commission. “Already, there are residents and small businesses organizing family days and community meetups. This temporary two-week Open Street allows people to test the space and inform how the permanent space’s use should look and feel.”
The planning commission said the closure resulted from an April community meeting during which residents and business owners gave feedback on the design and planning of the pedestrian expansion.
"More than 100 individuals participated in an interactive workshop and an online survey to better understand current challenges and successes, brainstorm new ideas, and provide additional feedback on amenities, activities, and programs – all in an effort to help inform the design process," the city said. "During pedestrian expansion, the City Planning Commission will explore the influence of this project, and welcome feedback on how our community would like to utilize the space, ensuring the best interest of residents and businesses in the community."
The city explained more details behind the pedestrian expansion project in a slideshow presentation that can be accessed by clicking here.
The city is welcoming volunteers for the free events during the two-week pedestrian expansion. Anyone interested in volunteering can email Britany Pabon at bpabon@clevelandohio.gov.