Car Free Weeks in Carondelet Park

About Car Free Week

Car Free Week is a monthly opportunity to enjoy Carondelet Park with no vehicular traffic in the park. The gates to each of the five street entrances to the park are closed on the first Monday through Sunday of the month. 

During Car Free Week, the park is still open to all visitors and it is accessible via street parking on Loughborough Ave., Holly Hills Ave., and Grand Blvd.

Benefits

Car Free Week allows us to appreciate the natural beauty of one of the City’s oldest parks. Temporary street closures or “open streets” have many benefits for communities and include: 

• Reducing danger, noise and pollution from cars
• Making streets in the park safe for recreation and improved public health
• Increasing opportunities for social interaction, improving mental health
• Allowing for greater appreciation of the area from a new perspective by walking or cycling 

Closing the park streets impacts vehicle access to certain areas, which is why Carondelet Park is only car free for one week each month. If you are visiting during Car Free Week, we encourage you to use the ample street parking around the park. 

To date, Car Free Week has not had a significant negative impact on traffic conditions in neighborhoods near the park. Studies have found that car-free zones may actually help reduce traffic on surrounding streets.

History

Car Free Week was instated by the Parks Division based on prior community feedback.

Permanent gates were first installed in the park as a project of the Holly Hills Special Business District in 2024; they close vehicle traffic to the park at the 10 p.m. curfew and during Car Free Week. Prior to the gates, the Parks Division utilized removable barriers to encourage a safe space for social distancing purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic.