Thunder Bay's Open Streets event promotes active living, transportation

Superior Morning4:29Open Streets - 2015

Open Streets is back in Thunder Bay this weekend. People will be walking, biking and even dancing all along Court Street Sunday afternoon.Part of Court Street in Thunder Bay will be taken over by pedestrian traffic on Sunday afternoon, when the city's third Open Streets event takes place.

The event invites people to treat a city street like it's a park.

Ashley Priem, a program co-ordinator with EcoSuperior, which is the organization hosting the event, said it's a way to promote healthy living, and active transportation.

"It's just a great way to get people to be more physically active, to get them to think about active transportation, walking and biking more and not taking the vehicle to run every errand."

Along the route, people will have a chance to participate in activities, such as dancing, hula hooping and chalk art.

Priem said last year's two Open Streets events attracted about 3,000 people.

"They were really successful. We were really happy to see the community support that we got. We got a lot of great, positive feedback," she said.

Court Street from John Street to Camelot will be closed to cars from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday for the event. There will be two police-directed intersections at Red River Road and Pearl Street where traffic will be allowed to cross.

Open Streets is being held as part of Culture Days in Thunder Bay.

Here's a photogallery from last year's Open Streets event.