Oaklavia closes streets to Celebrate the Renewal of Lake Merritt

Oakland celebrated improvements to Lake Merritt in style on June 9th, closing the streets ringing the city's historic centerpiece to cars--and opening them to cyclists, joggers, skaters, street performers and families. The 3.3-mile Ciclovía-style event coincided with the dedication of Lake Merritt Boulevard, a multimillion dollar project that has brought bike and pedestrian improvements to the lake's southern flank, along with a sparkling new amphitheater, a four-acre park, and a restored estuary connection to the San Francisco Bay.

The "Oaklavia" celebration was modeled after Sunday Streets events that have become a fixture in nearby San Francisco; and while Oakland's was the first in three years, planners expect many more to come.