PHOTOS PART TWO: Windsor’s First Open Streets Event

Sunday July 17th, 2016, 3:34pm

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Today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. several streets in Windsor were closed to traffic to allow residents to use the roadways for various recreational activities. This event, known as Open Streets Windsor, covered sections of University and Wyandotte from Sandwich Town to Ford City, and featured activities such as yoga, dancing, and street hockey, and allowed visitors to safely travel the roads by foot, bicycle, roller blades, and skateboards, stopping by local shops, restaurants, and vendor tents that were set up along the route.

“It’s so cool to see so many people out, checking out local businesses, sitting on patios and all that,” said Samantha Courtis, sport coordinator for Rose City Sport and Social Club, who was set up in the Walkerville Hub with lawn pong and beanbag toss games for people to enjoy.

Hubs refer to the main areas of the Open Streets event, where activities and vendors were gathered in the greatest numbers for easy perusal. There were eight hubs in total, located in Sandwich Town; on University Ave at Atkinson Park, the International Gardens, the Aquatic Centre, and Downtown; on Wyandotte at Marentette Avenue and in Walkerville; and in Ford City.

Open Streets events have taken place in over 100 cities across North America, and Windsor’s event is the “largest free recreation program in the city’s history,” according to The City of Windsor’s website.

The only complaint from attendees seemed to be the length of the event.

“Too bad it’s not longer,” said South Windsor based filmmaker Sarah Manschot. “If it went to dinner time then you could just grab a bite downtown while you’re already here.”