Open Streets takes over northeast Minneapolis Sunday

A section of northeast Minneapolis will be closed to cars on Sunday for an event that encourages residents to talk about how they use the city's streets.

Open Streets, which started in 2011, organizes several events throughout the city every summer. For Open Streets Northeast, approximately eight blocks will be open only to pedestrians and bicyclists.

The route includes stretches of Central Ave Northeast and other side streets. The roads will be closed to motorized traffic from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (A full map of the closure is available online.)

This is only the second of eight planned Open Streets events this summer. In June, Open Streets brought the event to the Uptown neighborhood, closing Lyndale Avenue South to cars for an afternoon. Later this summer, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue, Lowry Avenue North and other busy roads will play host to similar events.

Visitors to Open Streets will be asked to share their experiences navigating the city's streets. The Minnesota Departments of Transportation and Health want the information to help develop a pedestrian system plan.

Sue Roe, an agency spokeswoman for MnDOT, said feedback from this event will help shape new projects, policies and programs to improve the pedestrian environment.

MnDOT will continue its research at events throughout the summer.