CCD Releases Report on Impact of Open Streets Program, Announces 2026 Dates

Contact:
JoAnn Loviglio 215.440.5546
[email protected]

For Immediate Release

Entering its third year, Open Streets has drawn more than 170,000 visitors and delivered measurable economic benefits to Rittenhouse Row businesses

PHILADELPHIA (March 11, 2026) -- The Center City District (CCD) today released Open Streets: Reimagining Streets for People in Philadelphia, a comprehensive report documenting the outcomes and future vision of the Open Streets: West Walnut program.

Produced to mark the program entering its third calendar year, the impact report draws on visitor data, business surveys, pedestrian counts, and economic analysis to examine what Open Streets has delivered - and what it points toward for the future.

Launched as a pilot in September 2024, Open Streets: West Walnut closes 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust and Walnut Street from Broad to 19th to vehicle traffic on select Sundays, inviting pedestrians to shop, dine, and socialize in a car-free environment. In a span of 20 events over two years, the program attracted more than 170,000 visitors, earned a "Best of Philly" recognition, and garnered widespread recognition from businesses and the public.

Along with the Open Streets report, CCD today announced the 2026 dates for Open Streets. There are 20 scheduled for this year from April through December, the largest number since the program's inception. (See below for the breakdown of dates by season.)

"The results have been good for Center City, good for the retailers and restaurants of Rittenhouse Row, and good for Philadelphia, adding a chapter to the story of a downtown that is resilient, inventive, evolving, improving, and ambitious," CCD President & CEO Prema Katari Gupta said.

The report details how Open Streets has delivered measurable results for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. Key findings from the 2024-2025 season include an average of 10,000 visitors per event, a 27% increase in pedestrian activity compared to prior-year Sundays, and a 38% average increase in sales for participating businesses. In-store foot traffic among reporting businesses rose by 62% on Open Streets days.

"The question this report leaves open is not whether Open Streets works. It's how far we can take it," Gupta said.

The report attributes the program's success to factors including the corridor's high walkability, its dense mix of retail and restaurants, and its proximity to densely populated residential neighborhoods. It also notes that 37% of attendees were local Center City residents, while 35% traveled from the suburbs or outside the Philadelphia region - underscoring the program's appeal as both a neighborhood amenity and a regional destination.

Beyond the flagship West Walnut corridor, CCD also piloted the model in the Midtown Village neighborhood, temporarily pedestrianizing 13th Street and Sansom Street for four Sundays. The pilot revealed that programming must be tailored to each district's character. In response, CCD will shift the 2026 edition to Tuesday evenings to better align with that neighborhood's dining-focused, weeknight peak activity.

The report outlines a framework for scaling the program citywide, with recommendations including a streamlined permitting pathway for recurring street closures, city investment in shared modular safety infrastructure, and standardized guidelines to support adoption by other organizations and neighborhoods across Philadelphia. CCD also highlighted its own investment in the Meridian 1200 Archer modular barrier system as a cost-reducing alternative to vehicle deployments.

The dates and locations for Open Streets 2026 are: