Philadelphia Closes Streets Near Rittenhouse Square for Four Sundays in April
This April, Philadelphia will block off seven streets around Rittenhouse Square to cars each Sunday. The change comes after the huge success of winter events that boosted local business sales by 24% last December.
The streets around Rittenhouse Square will be closed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 6, 13, 20, and 27. Crews will begin setup at 7 a.m. and wrap up by 6 p.m., handling all the prep work and cleanup for each event.
The car-free area covers 18th Street between Locust and Chestnut, plus Walnut Street from 15th to 19th. Cars can still use parts of 16th, 17th, and 19th streets, while some sections of Sansom Street remain open to keep traffic moving smoothly.
Last year’s test run showed great results, with nine out of ten businesses seeing more foot traffic in September. During winter, more than half of the stores reported higher sales and increased customer engagement.
With cars out of the way, the streets near Rittenhouse Square come alive with vendors, food trucks, and pop-up shops. Live music echoes as performers and dancers take over the streets. Kids get their own playground on Walnut Street’s 1800 block, complete with chalk, bubbles, toys, and plenty of games.
On April 20, kids can catch the Easter Bunny making appearances throughout the day, adding extra excitement for families visiting the area.
This isn’t Philly’s first rodeo – back in ’71, the city banned cars from Walnut Street between Broad and 20th during special “Walk on Walnut Street” days.
Opening streets near Rittenhouse Square to people instead of cars shows how foot traffic helps businesses grow. The program keeps expanding because the evidence is clear – when people can walk freely, local shops thrive. These proven results convinced city officials to expand the car-free zone this year to further support Center City’s vibrant community.
Sources: nbcphiladelphia.com; whyy.org
