51st Annual Walk For Hunger: What To Know About Road Closures

BOSTON — On Sunday morning, as has happened for each of the past 50 first Sundays of the month of May, there will be a lot of people out walking from Boston to Brookline, Newton and Cambridge and back. It's for a good cause, but there will be road closures and parking restrictions to pay attention to. This year, thousands are expected to run and walk support community-based programs that help prevent and are working toward ending hunger.

Project Bread's 51st Walk For Hunger starts on the Boston Common and, while some may choose a 5K run and others may choose to walk that far, the majority will be walking a 20-mile loop out to Newton Centre and back. Police estimate some 3,000 people will participate in the 5K with another 15,000 participating in the walk, which won't really be finished until 8 p.m.

The 5K will begin on Charles Street at the Boston Common at 7:30 a.m. Runners will head right onto Boylston Street, right onto Arlington Street, right onto Beacon Street, right onto Charles Street to complete a loop around the Public Garden, then head right onto Boylston Street, right onto Arlington Street, left onto Commonwealth Avenue westbound, left onto Gloucester Street, left onto Commonwealth Avenue eastbound, right onto Arlington Street, left onto Boylston Street, left onto Charles Street.

The 20 mile walk will depart from the Boston Common at 8:30 a.m. Walkers will proceed to Beacon Street, left onto Arlington Street, right onto Commonwealth Avenue, through Kenmore Square, continuing on Beacon Street into the Town of Brookline, re-enter the Boston on Beacon Street at Ary Road in Brighton, continuing on Beacon Street into the City of Newton.

The return walk route will be on public sidewalks from the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts Avenue, left onto Commonwealth Avenue outbound, right onto Hereford Street, right onto Commonwealth Avenue, crossing Arlington Street to the Public Garden, through the Public Garden and returning to the Boston Common.

So cheer em on. That's a long day. And for anyone who needs to drive, taxi, bus or ride share around Boston, across Beacon Street in Brookline or Comm Ave in the Back Bay, be aware that there will be road closures from about 5 a.m. til noon.

20 Mile Walk for Hunger and 5K:

• Charles Street, Boylston and Beacon Streets, will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to approximately 12 Noon.
• Commonwealth Avenue outbound, Arlington Street to Massachusetts Avenue, will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to approximately 12 Noon.
• Beacon Street, at Chestnut Hill Avenue, Cleveland Circle, will be closed to traffic going toward the Reservoir from 8 a.m. to approximately 12 Noon.

An estimated 3,000 people will participate in the 5K with another 15,000 participating in the walk. The walk is expected to conclude at 8 p.m.

“Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Sunday” parking restrictions:

• Arlington Street, Public Garden side, Beacon Street to Boylston Street
• Beacon Street, Public Garden side, Charles Street to Arlington Street; and North side (opposite Boston Common side), from Spruce Street to Charles Street
• Beacon Street, Outbound side, from Commonwealth Avenue (Kenmore Square) to Park Drive (Audubon Circle)
• Boylston Street, Public Garden side, from Arlington Street to Charles Street
• Charles Street, Both sides, from Boylston Street to Beacon Street
• Commonwealth Avenue (outbound), from Hereford Street to #401 Commonwealth Avenue
• Beacon Street, Brighton, Reservoir side, from Chestnut Hill Avenue westerly until the existing Tow Zone No Stopping Anytime regulations.
• Cassidy Playground Parking Area, Both sides, Cassidy Playground parking area between Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue, on all parking meters.

• Beacon Street, Boston Common side, from Charles Street to opposite Walnut Street

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).