Asheville's Oakley neighborhood to demonstrate street improvements to benefit all users

Open Streets Oakley at Thompson Street
June 12, 2022, 12:00–5:00 PM


The Oakley Neighborhood Association, in conjunction with AARP and other sponsors, will hold its second annual Open Streets Oakley on Thompson Street, on Sunday, June 12. Come out, kick back, and stay awhile!

In part because of its proximity to downtown Asheville, Oakley is a historic neighborhood with narrow streets and sidewalks. It has seen a significant increase in density and traffic in the last few years, creating safety issues for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. On Sunday afternoon, Thompson Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for an Open Streets event.  

An Open Streets event is a program that temporarily opens a street to people by closing it to cars so that residents and visitors can experience it from a new perspective. So, on Sunday afternoon, Thompson Street is yours to enjoy on foot, on a bike or skateboard, or in a wheelchair, with none of the noise and danger of cars and trucks!

Volunteers will have installed park-like areas on the street for people to enjoy a picnic or snack from on-site food vendors (or you can bring your own). Planners will demonstrate traffic-calming solutions such as planters and crosswalks that force motorists to slow down and share the road.

Neighborhood businesses and organizations will set up booths to promote themselves. Are you interested in joining the action as a volunteer? If so, complete a volunteer application with the Oakley Neighborhood Association here. 

Ultimately, community events like Open Streets help residents change how they think about, use, and view streets and other public spaces in their neighborhood. They help residents answer the question, How would our neighborhood and city be different with more sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways, and streets we could safely share with vehicles?

*Please note that this link does not take you to an AARP form. Any information you provide to the Oakley Neighborhood Association will be governed by its privacy policy.