What is Streets Alive! Parks Alive!?
Streets Alive! Parks Alive! is about people being active on streets, parks and public spaces in their own communities to ensure a healthy future. Cities all around the world are organizing car-free open street events to promote health, reduce carbon emission, and build a sense of community. Streets Alive! Parks Alive! isn't intended to be just another festival or fair. It is about enjoying our everyday public places - streets, parks, plazas and trails - and transforming San Mateo County to make everyday activity easy and fun for everyone.

Has a date been set for Streets Alive! Parks Alive! 2013?
Yes. Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th.

Why does Streets Alive! Parks Alive! take place?
It highlights the great public spaces and parks in San Mateo County by closing streets to cars and encouraging fun activities for residents throughout the county. The event is intended to inspire people to come together to be active and healthy in safe, car-free environments.

Who participates?
People of all ages, backgrounds and levels of physical ability can participate in Streets Alive! Parks Alive! events.

How can people participate?
People are welcome to walk, run, roll, or ride to all events. Bikes, rollerblades, skates, skateboards, scooters, unicycles, wagons, strollers, stilts, pogo sticks, tricycles and any other non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome. Each city hosts its own array of activities that promote health and highlight some of the local parks, natural resources and attractions.

Is Streets Alive! Parks Alive! a race?
No. Participants are encouraged to enjoy city routes or parks at their own pace, and there are no planned start or end points for routes.

How much will Streets Alive! Parks Alive! cost?
Streets Alive is FREE family fun for everyone. Each participating city organizes free and low-cost activities.

Is Streets Alive! Parks Alive! safe?
Police, emergency services, public works, and parks and recreation departments are involved in planning to ensure that events are safe.

Who benefits from open street events?
Everyone benefits. Making our cities more accessible for people to be active is beneficial for everyone's health. Local businesses benefit from increased pedestrian and bike traffic along commercial streets, and the environment benefits from reduced carbon emissions.

How does Streets Alive! Parks Alive! impact traffic?
Events are scheduled for the time of week with the fewest cars on the road. Street closures are 'soft closures', with cross-traffic allowed at a limited number of points along the route and auto access for residents and businesses located within the closed route. Regardless of whether an event is held in a street, plaza or park, participants are encouraged to walk, bike and/or take public transportation to events.

Are dogs allowed?
Four-legged friends are welcome. They are required to be on a short leash, and owners or handlers are expected to pick up after them to comply with pet waste policies.

How can I get involved?

• Volunteer: If you are interested in volunteering, contact a host city directly for more information.
• Sponsor: If you are interested in 2013 sponsorship or partnership opportunities, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Partner: Cities hosting events seek partnerships with local non-profits and businesses to provide no-cost or low-cost organized activities and services such as bike repair and group exercise classes. If you'd like to be a local partner in 2013, contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Share: If you participated in a Streets Alive event, share your photos and tell us about your experience.