MLK OPEN STREETS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

DDOT is kicking off this year's first "Open Streets in Your Neighborhood" event in Historic Anacostia on Saturday, May 21st, from 9 am to 1 pm. All events are free and will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, between Good Hope Road SE and Morris Road SE

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to come and enjoy the reimagining of public space on our street. Attendees will get a chance to walk freely, run, bike, scoot, and partake in fun activities on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, between Good Hope Road and Morris Road.

The day's activities will include face painting, double dutch, artists, GoGo yoga, tai chi, Zumba, Kazaxe Azuka Bom, WeFit Flex, HITT, and Boxing Bootcamp.

There will be live musical performances by the Bela Dona Band, The Experience Band, and DC Strings.

Free and open to the public. See below for details on the day.

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the event space

Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE
Between Good Hope Road SE and Morris Road SE

If possible, walking to Open Streets is best!

  • By Transit: The Anacostia Metrorail station is two blocks south of the route and will be open. Other WMATA buses will be running detoured routes for the Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue buses.

  • By Bike: DDOT encourages participants to ride their bike to Open Streets and along the route and connect to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail along Good Hope Road.

  • DDOT’s goDCgo team has provided options for alternate modes of transportation for getting to Open Streets. Check out these options at: https://openstreets.dc.gov/event/martin-luther-king-jr-avenue.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Open Streets? 

  • Open Streets is a unique event that will allow residents and businesses to reimagine public roads as community spaces and consider new possibilities about the future of transportation and infrastructure in our city.

  • The Open Streets concept originated in Bogota, Colombia in 1976 and has expanded to more than 122 American municipalities. The goal of these events is to inspire people to think differently about their streets by closing streets to cars and encouraging physical activity, creating recreational opportunities, and fostering community building and education.

  • Open Streets in Your Neighborhood – Ward 8 event is planned for Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 
 

What is the Open Streets route?

What does this cost? 

  • Open Streets is a free event and all activities associated with the event will be free. Local businesses will be open to sell food, drinks, and retail items indoors.

How should people access the event? 

  • If possible, walking to Open Streets is best!

  • By Transit: The Anacostia Metrorail station is two blocks south of the route and will be open. Other WMATA buses will be running detoured routes for the Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue buses.

  • By Bike: DDOT encourages participants to ride their bike to Open Streets and along the route and connect to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail along Good Hope Road.

  • DDOT’s goDCgo team has provided options for alternate modes of transportation for getting to Open Streets. Check out these options at: https://openstreets.dc.gov/event/martin-luther-king-jr-avenue.

What is the detour route? 

  • TBD. This will be shared a couple of weeks before the event date for people to plan accordingly

When will MLK Jr. Avenue be closed to vehicles? 

  • Saturday, May 21st from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. No vehicle access can occur for any reason.

When do parked cars need to be removed from MLK Jr. Ave? 

  • Parking restrictions on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue begin on Saturday, May 21st at 12 a.m. through 2 p.m. DPW and MPD will begin towing at 12 a.m. The towing will be a “courtesy tow” to a vacant, legal spot nearby.

Where should I call if my car is towed? How much is the ticket for a towed car? 

  • Owners of towed vehicles are to call 202-541-6083.

  • The cost for the ticket is $50.00 and the cost for towing is $100.

Can people park on side streets that are blocked off but not part of the event? 

  • DDOT and MPD will have officers located at appropriate locations on the cross-streets to direct traffic to detour routes. These officers will allow local residents to park on the streets adjacent to MLK Jr. Avenue but not on MLK Jr. Avenue.

Are there any arrangements for special events (church activity, wedding, funeral, day care, performances)? 

  • No cars will be allowed on or across Georgia Avenue for any reason. We encourage anyone with a special event to plan accordingly. MPD officers will be located throughout the route to manage traffic accordingly.

How are we dealing with delivery companies (Uber Eats, Grub Hub, Doordash, etc)? 

  • Event organizers are reaching out to food delivery companies to alert them of the event and plan for alternate routes.

Will this event happen if it rains? 

  • The great thing about Open Streets is that you can cycle, run, or walk in any weather! The event will happen rain or shine, but some programming areas may be modified along the route to accommodate the weather.

How can I participate if I don’t bike? 

  • The route will have space set aside for quicker transportation modes such as bicycles, scooters, and roller blades, but will also provide space for those walking or jogging along the route. We welcome people to join fitness classes, demonstrations, or just sit and enjoy watching people on the street.

Can I bring my kids/stroller/pets/etc? 

  • Open Streets is open to people of all ages and abilities. There will be a range of events for children and adults as well as places along the event to sit and rest.

What should I bring with me? 

  • While you do not need to bring anything with you, you may want to bring a water bottle and comfortable walking shoes. Dress for the weather - this event happens rain or shine!

  • This is also a great event to bring your bicycle, tricycle, scooter, or other sets of (non-motorized) wheels or rent a Capital Bikeshare bike at one of the many stations located along MLK Jr. Ave.

  • There are stores and restaurants along the route where you can purchase food or beverages and refill your water bottle.

  • You may also wish to bring a backpack as many of the businesses and community organizations will be passing out free swag to participants.