Viva Streets

HOW TO: ●select a location, ●plan for street closures, ●schedule the event, ●plan fun activities as part of event, and ●“brand” it for your particular community AND... ●lessons learned. AGENDA

●Link parks, ●Adjacent local eateries and businesses (potential partners), ●Good bicycle/pedestrian connections, ●Motor vehicle parking/transit accommodations, ●Community neighborhood support, and ●Available open space. HOW TO SELECT A LOCATION:

●Type III barricades (state law), ●Consider points of entry, ●Volunteers, ●Police, and ●Contracted Professionals. HOW TO PLAN FOR STREET CLOSURES

●Good weather, ●Work with your City’s special events team, ●Coordinate with existing events? Holidays? HOW TO SCHEDULE THE EVENT

* Outreach to groups and organizations * Juggling * Dancing * Sports Groups/Teams * Yoga * Gyms * Roller derby * Hula Hoops * Bouncy House * Water Slides * City/other jurisdictions * Bike Shops * Outdoor stores * Encourage local businesses to participate and “own” their frontage. * Clear schedule on-line and promoted beforehand. * Encourage engaging ACTIVITIES. How to Plan Fun Activities as Part of the Event

HOW TO “BRAND” THE EVENT Youtube Facebook Website Logo T-Shirts Instagram Champion/Advocate Radio TV Daily Newspaper Weekly Groups/Orgs Outreach

LESSONS LEARNED: What worked Some were active for the first time in a long time. Others felt more comfortable riding and walking in the streets. Some businesses thought it worked great to bring drive-by traffic.

LESSONS LEARNED: What could be better Current model not sustainable Full time organizer needed Outside funding/grants needed Project lead outside City structure Best if supported by the City, but the City does not need to pay the bill. Austin worn out on events, especially in the dense downtown area. Hard to drive different demographics to central location. Shut down IH-35, SH-130, or Mopac to get the attention that it truly deserves. People are so conditioned to a running event that they get confused. To stay inclusive & free - sponsors need to understand urgency of sustainability.

Did it work? Effectiveness difficult to measure Only two events Potential funders want to see more success

HOW MUCH DID IT COST? 2013 City Sponsored (APD, EMS, Traffic Control Plan, Permits, Waste Removal) $21,000 Private Sponsorships - marketing, toilets, printing, tee-shirts, etc. $18,000 Total $39,000 (cost of event $38,000) ATTENDANCE* 2012: 20, : 25,000 *Based on grid estimates, entrances and exits along the 2 mile route and could include lots of people coming and going. Very difficult to estimate.

NEXT STEPS: September GAVA – “GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN” program out of Foundation Communities, funded by Michael and Susan Dell (MSDF). Southeast Austin: William Cannon between S. 1st Street and Brodie. MSDF may match whatever Viva Streets raises.

Viva Streets