CLEARWATER, FL (February 18, 2009)– Clearwater will close a two-mile stretch of Cleveland Street to motorized traffic Sunday, March 1 from 8am to 2pm for a multicultural street festival called "Sunday Ciclovía" (see-cloh-VEE-uh). Ciclovía is Spanish for “bike path". This event on March 1 was canceled due to bad weather and has been rescheduled for Sunday April 26, 2009.
The event route extends from Clearwater Harbor to Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. Food vendors, activities for kids, bicycle and running organizations as well as exhibitors representing public service, fitness and green living organizations will line the street. Participants can bike, stroll, skate, or take part in exercise, sports and dance classes.
“Initially, Sunday Ciclovía was proposed as a community-building event for Downtown Clearwater’s East Gateway neighborhood,” said Tammy Vrana, an event coordinator. “The scope of the event grew when other downtown groups saw potential in the family-friendly and health-focused street festival to showcase downtown and local businesses.”
Current major sponsors include the City of Clearwater, Downtown Development Board, Tampa BayCycle, Achieva Credit Union, Tampa Bay Informer, Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins, PostcardMania and Café Supreme.
Clearwater is following the lead of Bogotá, Columbia, who in 1976 initiated the first Ciclovía. Since then, cities around the globe such as London, Paris, Mexico City, Guadalajara, New York, Miami, Portland and San Francisco have hosted their own car-free events and some hold them weekly.
For more information, go to the city’s website at www.myclearwater.com/carfreesunday or call (727) 562-4047. Also bookmark our site www.tampabayinformer.com come back and visit us for a full review of the event!
