A popular event series that closed Denver’s streets to cars and opened them to cyclists and pedestrians will not return in 2024 despite attracting an estimated 40,000 people to experience downtown in a new way.
The monthly event series, called ¡Viva! Streets, was inspired by similar events in Latin America called ciclovías, meaning “cycleways.” During the event, 3.5 miles of roadways in the heart of Denver closed to vehicles.
The goal, according to organizers at the Downtown Denver Partnership, was to bring people together to enjoy a festive atmosphere and to get a little exercise while also increasing foot traffic to businesses along the route.
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Though CEO Kourtny Garrett believes ¡Viva! Streets achieved those objectives, the series was resource-intensive, costing about $700,000 between four events. Some unexpected costs cut into DDP’s budget and some logistics seem insurmountable in the near future, Garrett said.
Ultimately, organizers don’t believe they can pull off the full scope of the event again this year. ¡Viva! Streets will instead return in 2025, they hope.
“We vetted a number of scenarios with the city that would be less resource intensive on all parts, including a shorter route, including moving it,” Garrett said. “The decision to move forward in 2025 rather than come back annually is simply one of resources and needing more of a runway and more time to be able to identify the right partners, drum up the resources that are needed and make sure we have a plan that’s sustainable for the long term.”
The fate of Taste of Colorado, a longtime food festival that was repurposed during ¡Viva! Streets, remains unclear.
In response to the postponement, Denver Streets Partnership, which advocates for people-friendly streets in the Mile High City, launched an email campaign to “save ¡Viva! Streets,” attributing the cancellation to permitting issues. It calls on Mayor Mike Johnson to build a sustainable permitting process and revive the event this year.
In a statement, the mayor’s office said the decision to move ¡Viva! Streets fell squarely on DDP. Garrett agreed, acknowledging permitting issues alongside other factors.
“Permitting is, of course, a factor. Traffic control is a factor. In order to mitigate those you need resources,” she said.
DDP plans to host other events during the year, including Denver Startup Week and celebrations around the reopening of the 16th Street Mall following extensive construction.
