Open Streets events are returning to Minneapolis neighborhoods in 2024 and local businesses, artists, and community groups have an opportunity to shape the day into an event that best fits their communities.
Organizers have until February 15th at 2 p.m. to submit proposals for each of the five events, which will take place at five different locations:
- West Broadway from Lyndale Avenue North to Penn Avenue North
- Lyndale Avenue South from West 22nd Street to West 42nd Street
- Northeast: Portions of Central Avenue Northeast
- Franklin Avenue from Portland/Park avenues to 26th Avenue South
- Nicollet from 31st Street to 46th Street
"This an exciting opportunity for community groups or organizations that have loved this event over the years to make it even more personal to the neighborhoods and communities the events will take place in," said City Operations Officer, Margaret Anderson Kelliher. "Open Streets was originally a concept that you could freely walk or bike down the street and people would own the street for a day. What's happened over time is some of that, but it's really become a street festival and fair that celebrates communities. The city wants to keep supporting that."
Minneapolis ended its collaboration with Our Streets Minneapolis at the end of the 2023 Open Streets events. Our Streets Minneapolis had run the annual festivals since 2011.
Our Streets Minneapolis had submitted an $851,000 budget proposal for five events prior the the agreement ending. Their proposal, according to their website, indicated they would be willing to host up to ten events with the additional funding.
Anderson Kelliher told WCCO Radio on Wednesday morning that the city's willing to commit up to $50,000 for each event, along with in-kind supportsuch as trash/recycling pick-up, traffic control, and police officers as-needed.
"Organizations will have to abide by the contract that they sign that they will be able to put that money into promotion of the event, the ability to maybe buy-down if they do a fee for vendors, if they have specific vendors they want to see there, they can buy-down that vendor fee. We're open to how that money will be spent."
102,000 people attended Open Streets events in 2022.
