Scene in Logan Square: Sunday Parkways

Sunday Parkways/Paseo Dominical starts (or ends) in Logan Square on Sunday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m.

New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Antonio — these are just some of the U.S. cities that have closed their streets to cars on select days and turned them over to active recreation.

This Sunday it’s Chicago’s turn, and Logan Square will join the party. Take back the boulevards and bike, blade, skate, jog, stroll the kids or walk the dog — just don’t drive — on Kedzie and Humboldt Boulevards in Logan Square and continuing south to Garfield Park. Another Sunday Parkways event is scheduled for Sunday, October 26 on the south side of the city.

The boulevard system links Logan Square to Palmer Square and Humboldt Park, and there will be a variety of activities to capture your attention along the route (right).

Just north of Logan Square’s square, next to the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church at the Paseo Prairie Garden, the Loyola University Bike Club will conduct a rolling repair workshop.

Just east of the square, the Logan Square Farmer’s Market (see A Square Link or Two in right column) continues as it has every Sunday since June.

In the spirit of the event, this is a great place to get breakfast or lunch en plein aire. Cook au Vin will roll in the savory crêpes cart, Vella Café will offer iced coffee, lemonade and tasty paninis, and this is the last weekend that the Galewood Cookshack will be serving up succulent barbecued pulled pork sandwiches.

It looks like it’s going to be perfect weather, but if it gets a bit cool or you just want to relax and sit down, you can head inside at a variety of restaurants surrounding the square.

Further south, Palmer Square plays host to a variety of Sunday Parkways activities starting with morning yoga led by The Temple of Kriya Yoga, closing with the music of El Primer Orquestra de Guiro en Chicago, and filling the time in between with dance, aerobics and fencing activities.

The idea for car free streets began in Bogotá, Colombia about 30 years ago. Bogotá’s Ciclovía, as it’s called there, closes down 70 miles of streets every Sunday and up to 30% of Bogotá’s population of 7 million participate. See how it’s done by the masters:

(A shorter Ciclovía [Express Version] is available over at Streetfilms.)

Obviously, Chicago’s effort has a more modest start. But with our participation in large numbers we can muster support for an even greater event next year. Come out and show your love for Sunday Parkways. Come out and bike, blade or skate — just don’t drive.

After you’ve tried it, please share your experience of Sunday Parkways here: What did you think? What did you do? How did you get around? How much of the route did you cover? How long did you stay? What surprised you? What impressed you? What can be better next year?