By Madison Bloomquist/Murphy News Service

Dinkytown and surrounding University of Minnesota neighborhoods closed some roads Saturday for Open Streets Minneapolis, a citywide event highlighting local businesses and celebrating U-area communities.

Open Streets is an annual event in which Twin Cities areas allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely travel in the middle of typically busy roads. There are eight different Open Streets events throughout the Twin Cities each year, but this was the first year Dinkytown and the U participated.

Stretches of University Avenue, 14^th Avenue Southeast and Oak Street Southeast closed most of the day for the event. Local retailers, restaurants, University of Minnesota groups and area cooperatives set up tables to speak with community members and share what they do.

The Dinkytown Business Alliance and the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition worked together to create Dinkytown’s Open Streets event.

Dinkytown Business Alliance Coordinator Katie Thering said many businesses were eager to be involved.

Thering said she also hoped the event would bring former and current students together to commemorate past and present forms of Dinkytown. She printed a long map of the area and invited passersby to add their favorite restaurants, stores and memories.

“Everyone who went to the University of Minnesota has good memories of Dinkytown,” she said.

The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition’s executive director, Ethan Fawley, said the U was a strong and unique component of the weekend’s event. Many Twin Cities businesses participate in each event, but this Open Streets was the only to have University of Minnesota student groups join in. He said was glad that so many groups decided to participate. The University of Minnesota Running Club, the Minnesota Student Association and Radio K, among others, staffed tables to connect with students and community members.

Jordan Baur, a U Running Club officer, said he was glad the event’s organizers reached out to them. He said he talked to about 25 students in the first few hours who might not have otherwise known about the club, he said. He said he also discussed the club with alumni and local residents.

Next year’s event locations have not been finalized, Thering said, but added she is optimistic about Dinkytown’s return to Open Streets and thinks it is a great location for the event.

“Dinkytown has a long history of being unique,” she said.

Madison Bloomquist is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.