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Pop-Up 'Pedestrian Plazas' Will Let You Picnic in the Street in Lakeview

 Though the chamber has released few details about Lakeview's "pedestrian plaza," other cities have already embraced similar programs. This is a photo of NYC's Summer Streets City Picnic, which turned a New York street into a giant picnic.
Though the chamber has released few details about Lakeview's "pedestrian plaza," other cities have already embraced similar programs. This is a photo of NYC's Summer Streets City Picnic, which turned a New York street into a giant picnic.
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Facebook/Summer Streets

LAKEVIEW — A stretch of Lincoln Avenue in West Lakeview will house pop-up pedestrian plazas on Sundays in September.

From noon-4 p.m. every Sunday, the street will close to cars between School and Roscoe streets to make way for street performers, picnic areas and activities for kids.

"It won't be like a street festival. There won't be a big stage with entertainment and food vendors and liquor and all of that," said Heather Way Kitzes, executive director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the events.

"It's mostly just to activate the area in a different way. We want people to come out and enjoy the neighborhood."

Lee Crandell, a program director with the chamber, said people could expect something similar to Open Streets — an initiative that blocked off streets in the Loop, Wicker Park and Logan Square from 2011-2013.

People were able to skateboard, practice yoga, ride bikes or picnic.

The exact programming for Lakeview's Sunday Play Spot, as it's called, hasn't been finalized, Kitzes said, but visitors will find something for all ages.

"It's not going to be geared fully toward families or fully toward 20-somethings or people without kids," she said. "We wanted it to have a more universal appeal."

The chamber has partnered with the Lake View YMCA, the Lakeview Whole Foods and The Little Gym.

Kitzes said she's trying to enlist local restaurants like New England Seafood Company or Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams to sell pre-packaged snacks. And stores on Lincoln Avenue could host sidewalk sales.

The Sunday Play Spot program is part of the chamber's ongoing efforts to make Lakeview more pedestrian-friendly. The chamber announced last month a "placemaking plan" that includes small-scale projects along Lincoln Avenue between Belmont and Diversey.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the investment firm L3 Capital bought $3.5 million worth of buildings at Lincoln and Roscoe. The stretch from 3351-3361 N. Lincoln Ave. will be remodeled to maximize retail space.

"The face of Lincoln Avenue is going to change drastically over the next 12 months," Kitzes said. "That's really exciting news, but we want to get something going before then" with the Sunday Play Spot.

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