Center Streets Provides West Hartford Community with 'Block Party on Wheels'

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Center Streets Provides West Hartford Community with 'Block Party on Wheels' http://www.we-ha.com

Glastonbury, CT - The fifth annual Center Streets drew a crowd as a loop around West Hartford Center was closed to vehicular traffic for several hours on Sunday.

They came by bike – including bikes with training wheels, three wheelers, and on recumbent bicycles – they came by scooter, they came by skateboard, they came in strollers, and they came on foot, and with a loop around West Hartford Center closed to vehicle traffic for several hours Sunday, the community enjoyed what many have called a “block party on wheels” held traditionally on the Sunday before school resumes.

While people came in waves, West Hartford Police officers on duty estimated the crowd during the duration of the event, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., totaled 2,000, although never at any one single time.

“The demographic is definitely families with kids,” said Ethan Frankel, co-organizer of the fifth annual Center Streets. The event was not held in 2020, with a “slow roll” replacing it, but returned for 2021. He said the overall number who attended seemed to be roughly the same as in past years.

“The kids have a blast and the parents love it,” Frankel said.

An avid cyclist, Frankel said he was happy to see so many people in attendance, and also mentioned that he is also happy with the North Main Street road diet. “I feel like it brings sanity to driving through town,” he said.

In addition to opening the streets Sunday ...

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