Boston's bustling city streets are poised to transform into vibrant pedestrian playgrounds once again, as Mayor Michelle Wu announces the return of the Open Streets Series and Open Newbury in the summer and fall of 2025. Amid the grid of asphalt that typically hums with car engines and honking horns, expansive strolls, family fun, and local commerce await eager Bostonians looking for an urban oasis on selected thoroughfares. According to the City's announcement, popular routes like Blue Hill Ave. in Roxbury and Centre Street in Jamaica Plain will be closed to vehicles, joined by newcomer Mattapan on October 18, offering up street space for play and community connection.
Specifically, Open Streets events are scheduled to take over various neighborhoods, promising numerous activities from music to munchies, while Open Newbury turns the eponymous street into a festival-like cornucopia of dining, shopping, and leisurely rambles. "I'm excited to announce the lineup for our fourth annual summer of Open Streets. When we see streets shut down to car traffic, community gets to take over, small businesses have tables out in the street, kids are running back and forth, music, dancing, food, it’s the best of what our public spaces look like,” Mayor Michelle Wu told the City of Boston. With street closures starting at 9:00 a.m. and wrapping up at 4:00 p.m., these events gift locals a rare opportunity – the chance to take a breath and bask in the communal spirit sans the automobile's tyranny.
As a nod to the evolution of urban spaces toward more pedestrian-centric designs, the Open Streets events happen from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., carving out a block of time where the streets echo with footsteps rather than tire treads. "Opening our streets makes it possible for residents to engage with their neighborhood in a new way, or to explore a new part of the City for the first time,” Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge remarked in a statement obtained by the City of Boston. The initiative spreads across the calendar, punctuating it with days designed for people – not just passenger cars.
Meanwhile, Open Newbury promises a different flavor of urban exploration, offering an extended retail and gastronomic promenade with its car-free Sundays spanning from July through September, and an extra date in December for holiday shoppers, as detailed by the City of Boston. Each event is tailored to reflect the palpable character of its neighborhood, bringing with them an eclectic mix of food trucks, entertainment, and local crafts. "The restaurants, retailers, and service businesses along the iconic street, and the entire Back Bay area, benefit from the exposure that Open Newbury provides and through the draw of new visitors, especially those who may not otherwise shop or dine in the neighborhood," said Meg Mainzer-Cohen, President and Executive Director of the Back Bay Association, capturing the spirit of the event.
Intrigued Bostonians can mark their calendars and muster their community spirit as they await the full schedule of Open Streets and look forward to the leisurely lure of Open Newbury. More information, including specific dates and activities, can be found on the Open Streets Series and Open Newbury website, inviting visitors and locals alike to engage with their city's streets in newfound, joyous ways.
