This September, on Sundays, some surrounding streets of Rittenhouse Square will be open for pedestrians to stroll, shop, and socialize. The Open Streets: West Walnut event, hosted by Center City District (CDC), offers Philadelphia residents a new way to connect with their community.
On four consecutive Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut and Walnut Street from 15th to 19th will be closed to vehicle traffic.
The event extends the city’s public spaces, with Rittenhouse Square’s 18th and Walnut entrance directly linking to the park.
Retailers and restaurants will also take advantage of the open streets with special deals and extended outdoor seating.
The event has something for all ages, including a family-friendly zone with sidewalk chalk, games, and live entertainment for kids.
Giavana Suraci, the Senior Manager of Retail Marketing and Events for Center City District, says, ” We’re just doing things that bring people together, bring them outside and enjoy the streets without the burden of cars. But really, it’s just to see if people would want to be outside walking the streets of Philadelphia.”
Since February, Suraci and her team have been working to make this event a reality for Philadelphia’s residents.
“This is just a four-week trial run here. We have no plans to extend it right now, but we think that these four weeks in September have been really special, and we’d love to continue it eventually,” Suraci says.
This year, the last day of Open Streets: West Walnut is September 29th. Visit Center City District’s website for the complete list of participating businesses, activities, and performances.
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