Viva Streets Logo from Official Viva Streets website – http://about.livewellcolorado.org/vivastreets

This Sunday,  August 14, 2011 from 10am to 2pm, something grand will happen in Denver. After years of work and advocacy from the community, Denver will host its first Viva Streets event. Based on the Ciclovia concept that originated in Bogata, Columbia in the 1980’s and has now spread to cities around the world, Viva Streets is the ultimate street party. From 10am to 2pm this Sunday, August 14th, E. 23rd Avenue through Park Hill and part of Stapleton from Colorado Blvd to Syracuse Street will be closed to automobiles. People of all walks of life are invited to come out and walk, bike, roller blade, skate their way along 23rd from activity to activity.

Map of Viva Streets event from Official Viva Streets website – http://about.livewellcolorado.org/vivastreets

The event is free and open to everyone. Festivities will kick off at 10am at 23rd and Kearney in Park Hill. Participants can simply go for a stroll or a bike ride or they can enjoy some of the many free activities along the route.  There will be a children’s play area, free yoga classes and music at various locations along 23rd.

The original Ciclovia started in Bogata, Columbia in the 1980’s and is still going strong. Every Sunday, Bogata closes 120 kilometers of streets and over 2 million people walk, run, bicycle, skate, and enjoy the closed roadways from 7am to 2pm. Strong leadership in Botata, from community activists and public officials such as former mayor Penalosa, have kept Columbia’s Ciclovia alive for all the citizens of that city.

Similarly, in Denver, visionary work by civic leaders such as former Councilwoman Carla Madison, who passed away in April, coupled with advocacy from BikeDenver and funding from LiveWell Colorado, has made Denver’s first Viva Streets a reality. So come out and enjoy a great car-free Sunday. With new Council members such as Susan Shepard and Albus Brooks showing interest in continuing Viva Streets, hopefully this will be the first of many.