Open Streets events are designed to promote community wellness by offering temporary car-free spaces on local streets. (Courtesy photo)

The Santa Ynez Valley Open Streets debut will help to create safe and temporary car-free spaces on streets and roads, opening them up as a public park for a day.

A mile of the Avenue of Flags in Buellton will be car-free, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 30, as part of the first Open Streets event for the greater Santa Ynez Valley. The event host is Santa Ynez Valley Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition (HEAL).

Open Streets will kick-off CycleMAYnia in Santa Barbara County. CycleMAYnia is a month-long celebration during National Bike Month. The celebration reaches thousands of cyclists and community members throughout May, led by Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Traffic Solutions Division.

The Santa Ynez Valley Open Streets event is made possible through the support of the city of Buellton, Measure A Santa Barbara County’s Transportation Sales Tax Measure, and local sponsors Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Cottage Health, Visit Santa Ynez Valley, Buellton Chamber of Commerce, and Solvang Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring this event to the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Valerie Kissell, CEO of People Helping People and the fiscal sponsor for the HEAL Coalition.  “The city of Buellton has been incredibly supportive and we look forward to the community coming out and supporting this inaugural event.”

“Business organizations and community members can still sponsor the event or sign up to bring a fun activity or contest.” Organizers anticipate more than 2,000 people will attend the event.

The city will shut down an nearly mile-long section from Damasa to State Route 246 to vehicles and open it up for pedestrians and bikers to enjoy. The event will include street music, family friendly-physical fitness activities, and other wellness-themed activities hosted by local businesses and organizations.

To sign up to sponsor, participate as a vendor, or learn more about Open Streets, visit www.syvopenstreets.com.

Open Streets events share a common goal of promoting community wellness by creating safe and temporary car-free spaces on streets and roads. SBCAG’s Traffic Solutions Division has hosted or supported community-led events across the county, including in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Guadalupe and Carpinteria.