Last fall, Philadelphia’s Center City District (CCD) launched Open Streets: West Walnut on a series of Sundays. One Sunday at a time, the program showed off Center City’s innate vibrancy when it catered to people and not cars. CCD provided some light programming, such as musical acts and dance performances, as well as more casual DIY programming, such as cornhole and ping pong, and a few seating pods. Retailers and restaurants, whose business often slows down on Sundays, could expand their footprint into the street and gain new customers. It was such a success, the program came back for several encores. Open streets are a practicable solution to the problems of the post-pandemic city. At a time when people can socialize, eat, and be entertained without even having to leave their homes,

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