All posts in the topic University Avenue Festival (Short link)

From: Paul Nelson Date: Aug 05 16:54 UTC Short link

I have an idea - this is a proposal. I would like everyone interested to think
about this.

While I was thinking about recent posts about parking and traffic volumes, and
some very nice photos taken of the variety of small businesses on University by
a young woman who is opposed to LRT, (I am supportive of LRT)it occurred to me
that University Avenue does not have a localized pamphlet directory to all of
the small and large businesses on the Avenue. And then I thought of a Festival.

Once a year we could have a University Avenue Festival on a Sunday, whereby the
outside traffic lane is barricaded off and closed to auto traffic, open to
walking and bicycling. Some or most all of the on-street parking could be
vacated for the festival. The outside lane could be opened up at the
intersections for right hand turns.

Grand Avenue has a *Grand Old Days* celebration once a year in June where the
entire avenue is closed to auto traffic. I think something similar could be
done on University.

I think and feel this would be a terrific way to celebrate all of the
businesses on University and bring all of the communities together. We would
not have to wait for LRT to be built to have the festival.

Cheers
Paul Nelson
Ward One - District 7
Hyde Park
    

From: Grace Kelly (nicknamed Kelly) Date: Aug 07 19:44 UTC Short link

I think the problem with the idea of a University Avenue Festival, is that no
one I know has an emotional attachment to University Av. Grand Av has its own
unique culture and following. There are many Grand Av only type businesses that
make it unique. My friends drive in from outer suburbs to shop at places like
the spice place (Pennzys sp?). Most of us think University Av is place of high
traffic, a place to avoid. Also shutting down traffic on University would
hinder more people than the celebration would please. I just don't see this
idea taking hold.

Grace Kelly nicknamed Kelly
Curmudgeon from Merriam Park
    

From: Jeanne Weigum Date: Aug 08 15:31 UTC Short link

No one has an attachment to University Ave?  Hmmm.  Then where do you
suppose University United, Universitree, the effort to reclaim Dickerman
Park, the Uni-architecture awards, the art benches that have been placed in
the last 4-5 years come from.  And whats with the hundreds of folks that jam
the Ave (largely to the neighbor's disappointment) every weekend all summer
to see the cars?

No, University Avenue is not Grand Avenue, but it was originally envisioned
as a great urban greenway, which is why there are pockets of 80-100 year old
oak trees at places like Dickerman Park, the Wright Building, and Midway
Grove, not to ignore Iris Park.

Does the Ave.  need more love and attention?  Yup.  But somebody does lover
'er.

Jeanne Weigum
Computing on the 3rd floor of 2395 University Ave. W