More than 75 organizations from around Norman will take over the streets of Campus Corner for an event encouraging physical activity.
The Cleveland County Health Department will host Open Streets in Norman from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 9. Boyd Street will be closed from University Boulevard to Jenkins Avenue for the duration of the event, along with Buchanan Avenue, White Street and Asp Avenue. This is the first time Open Streets has been to Norman, though the event has been all over the country, including Oklahoma City, said Christy Emig, Cleveland County Health Department community coordinator.
The event is part of the Cleveland County Health Department’s county-wide health campaign Caring for Tomorrow, said Tara Douglas, Cleveland County Health Education supervisor. Caring for Tomorrow is a health campaign that focuses on child health, mental health, substance abuse and obesity prevention coalitions for Cleveland County, Douglas said. The campaign thought of Open Streets when looking for a way to create more community initiatives in the area, Douglas said.
“This was a great way we thought to engage the community behind a health related activity and also kind of engage all of those work groups towards a common goal,” Douglas said.
Nonprofits, churches and Campus Corner businesses will roll out booths and activities for Open Streets to encourage physical activity in the community, Emig said.
“The concept behind Open Streets is bringing the community together and really highlighting active transportation — encouraging people to ditch their cars for the day and come ride their bikes and walk and roller skate, or anything that they enjoy, and get comfortable with physical activity,” Douglas said.
Attendees can participate in Oklahoma City Energy FC’s Soccer Billiards, obstacle courses, yoga, Zumba, human foosball and bike rides with the Bicycle League of Norman and the City of Norman Bicycle Advisory Committee, Emig said.
Free parking will be available at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church and St. John's Episcopal Church. Dogs are also welcome, according to the event’s Facebook page.
