Open Centre Street? City Says People Are Asking

BOSTON, MA — The city-led, car-free, Open Newbury Street experiment this Sunday is being heralded as a success from nearly all sides, and apparently giving some people big ideas about replicating the event in other neighborhoods.

City Chief of Civic Engagement Jerome Smith told the Globe people are discussing a car-free day on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, as well as other neighborhood locations.

Now people are talking about a car-free day on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, or on Tremont Street in the South End, or parts of Roslindale or West Roxbury, says Jerome Smith, the city’s chief of civic engagement, whose department organized Open Newbury.

In Back Bay, the city closed the iconic shopping and dining strip off to vehicles from Berkley Street to Mass Ave. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., last Sunday.

Many businesses erected merchandise displays on the sidewalk or street out front, or offered games, from ping pong to cornhole to jenga, to attract customers. Restaurants set up street-side dining, DJs took up residence outside several stores, retailers hosted bands on-site, and performers took to the streets. (Photos)

“The success of Newbury Street opened many people’s eyes in the city,” Smith told columnist Shirley Leung. “This could happen in my neighborhood.”

We at Patch thought we'd put the question to you: good idea, or no?

Please tell us in the comments, or by emailing alison.bauter@patch.com. In particular, we're curious to hear from the business and restaurant owners along the street who would be impacted the most.

>> Photo from Open Newbury Street by Alison Bauter, Patch staff