Open Streets Macon, an initiative of Bike Walk Macon, will return with a new route on Napier Ave. (from Pio Nono Ave. to Linden Ave.) on Sunday, October 24th, 2021 from 2 pm to 6 pm. This route, nominated by Napier Heights resident Andrea Cooke, will encourage Maconites to reimagine .8 miles of streets as “paved parks” where people of all ages, abilities and social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds can get active and connect with their community and each other. 

In addition to activating the street, Open Streets Macon will simultaneously serve as a day to improve Napier Ave. for pedestrians and bicyclists. Macon-Bibb County Parks and Beautification will assist with cleaning the streets and sidewalks along with dozens of volunteers from the neighborhood and Mercer University on the day of the event. A traffic-calming project funded by donations will be installed later this fall based on feedback from residents of the immediate area.

Open Streets Macon welcomes the entire community to explore the route and connect with neighbors along the route. Attendees can hop on the route at any point – there is no start or end – and experience Open Streets Macon at their own pace. More than twenty-five local organizations and businesses will offer participatory experiences along the route in activity hubs located along Napier Ave. at Linden Ave., Holt Ave., and Patterson Ave.

Some of the highlighted free activities include yoga by Sparks Yoga, music entertainment by Drum Circle by The Southern Center for Choice Theory, drum performances by Streetline Percussion, and the day will kick-off with a Bike Parade starting at Linden Ave. A full list of activities can be found at www.openstreetsmacon.com/boulevard. 

“Growing up in Napier Heights, I have a strong sense of pride in my community. Open Streets Macon brought so much joy to other neighborhoods, and I wanted that same joy for my neighborhood, so I applied and I could not be happier”, says neighborhood champion, Andrea Cooke. “Come see the old homes and wonderful people who live in Napier Heights when Bike Walk Macon helps us open our streets for fun and community!”

Here are some things you need to know before Open Streets Macon:

• It’s FREE and open to people of all ages and abilities. 

• It’s not a race and you don’t need a bike to participate. You can walk or skate to your heart’s content.

• There’s no beginning or end. Start and end anywhere!

• The flow of participants goes both ways, just like regular traffic.

• Open Streets Macon will kick off with a Bike Parade at 2:00 pm. If you would like to participate in the Bike Parade, meet at the intersection of Linden Ave. and Coleman Ave. at 2:00 pm for free bike decorating. 

Open Streets Macon is organized by Bike Walk Macon and supported by a diverse range of public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders. Our 2021 Open Streets Macon sponsors, including Macon-Bibb County Parks and Beautification, AARP Georgia, Apparel Authority, and the Grand Opera House, make this initiative possible. 

“Open Streets Macon gives us the opportunity to bring neighbors, friends, and families together for a few hours to reimagine a safer and more bikeable, walkable Macon.” says Bike Walk Macon Executive Director Rachel Umana. “We’d like to especially thank the residents of Napier Heights for partnering with our organization to bring Open Streets to a new neighborhood. We look forward to celebrating a friendlier Napier Ave. with the community in just a few days.”

Find more information about the program and learn how to get involved at www.openstreetsmacon.com and follow the event on Facebook (Open Streets Macon).