Watsonville community participates in “Open Streets Day”
Playing in the street was the exception in Watsonville on Sunday. The downtown area held the first “Open Streets Day,” as a way to take back their streets from violence and engage the community.
There was a day full of music, skateboarding, and bike riding in downtown Watsonville.Residents in the area never thought they’d see it off busy streets like, Union and Brennan.
Saskia Lucas was the director of the event and said the goal of Sunday’s event was to, get people moving.
“Live healthier lifestyles get more physical activity,” Lucas said. “And we want to give them a safe place to do it.”
A safety survey of Watsonville has revealed that more than 50 percent of the city’s youth would feel unsafe in the city plaza during the day. But Lucas wants the public to feel comfortable in their own community.
“When you bring these kind of positive activities this kind of positive community building experience, that’s only going to help decrease violent crime and the things that lead to that,” said Lucas.
Lucas said another important aspect of this event, was connecting residents in the area with activities that they might not have tried out on the street.
Some kids participated in their first ever yoga class in the middle of the street.
Business owner, Maria Pena, of Fruiteria Quetzal, is encouraged by the efforts.
“It’s fun, I like for the community, you know, having one day together, seeing the kids all playing on the street, and they come in, so its good,” said Pena.
Dozens of bike riders enjoyed the half mile stretch all the way down to Callahan park. Park, an known for violent crimes. However, people on Sunday were enjoying the park and all the day had to offer.
“The parks are there for kids to have a place to go and feel safe,” said Felicia Davidson, a member of the Watsonville youth city council. “And that’s not where they can feel safe then that’s really not what we should want.”
Organizers said they’d like to continue the “Open Streets Day,” as it was a huge success this year.
