Pulsing with art and absent any four-wheeled congestion, one urban artery became the heart of neighborhood interaction on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

By foot or bicycle, hundreds flocked to East Franklin Avenue for a daylong festival organized by Open Streets Minneapolis. About two miles of Franklin east of Portland Avenue were closed to car and bus traffic and open to tents, pedestrians and singers in Peavey Park.

"Different communities in Minneapolis don't interact that often," said Open Streets volunteer Natalie Locke, pointing to the mix of ages, classes, genders and races.

"We need more of this," she said. "We need togetherness rather than separation."

In its sixth year, the organization lined up eight events this summer. Up next are Open Streets on University Avenue, Nicollet Avenue South, Lowry Avenue North and downtown Minneapolis. The goal of Open Streets is to support local businesses, sustainable transportation and healthy living.

Attendees set up tents for anything from making tea bags or handmade jewelry to promoting access to early education. Scrawled with pastel sidewalk chalk, Franklin Avenue called to mind street cultures that aren't so destination-oriented in places like Amsterdam, Madrid or Portland, said volunteer Sarah Larsson.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
From left, Amy Jones, of Minneapolis, played Hannah Rossio, of Portland, Ore., in chess while Mouydine Bolarinwa played mancala with his wife Mutiatu Bolarinwa, both of Minneapolis, at the “sPARKit” pop-up park.

"There's more association with streets getting us from point A to point B," she said. "I like the idea of a city destination for relationships and human interaction."

Zach Bagaason was on the street to promote Intersections, which curates art experiences in the Phillips neighborhood. He tapped a vintage lingerie washboard with a wooden rod, among strangers who also created music with random objects.

"It reminds you that you need to be outside more," Bagaason said, "And you need to be on your phone less."

Rose Carter, who lives a few blocks off Franklin, strolled over to find out what the hype was about and left with a backpack full of goodies.

"I walked into all kinds of resources," she said. "Everything had something for me."

She was struck by the "valley of information" that was available for a place she's long inhabited. Her day concluded beside another community member, Willy Johnson, at Peavey Park where a rapper performed onstage.

"There's a lot of negative energy in this park," she said. The area nearby has been a site of gun violence, most recently two shooting deaths last month.

She added: "Stuff like this keeps it at bay."

In all, the celebration on pavement would likely have received a gold star from Mister Rogers.

"Maybe stopping to talk to your neighbor on the way to work isn't the most efficient way to get there," said Locke. "But it is the best way."

Natalie Daher • 612-673-1775