'Open Streets' at Penn Fest to Return in 2013

After a successful 2012 event, Penn Central of Richfield's Penn Fest celebration will return as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Open Streets event this September.

Once again organizers were awarded the $10,000 Open Streets Scholarship from Blue Cross Blue Shield to make the event possible. The grant money helps pay for the costs associated with the complete closure of vehicular traffic on Penn Avenue during the event, such as the hiring of extra police officers and traffic coordinators.

For the past six years, members of the Penn Central of Richfield neighborhood organization have been working together to improve the Penn Avenue business district, while also fostering a stronger sense of community. The Open Streets program is meant as a health initiative to engage people in fun activities on the street of a community.

According to Penn Central of Richfield wesbite: "Planning for Open Streets at Penn Fest 2013 is underway. This year we are hoping to have more activities, more participation form local businesses and even more visitors on the day of the event. Richfield Public Safety estimated that last year's event drew approximately 7,000 people. We hope to beat that number in 2013."

The event will be held Sunday, Sept. 15. Richfield Patch will continue to update readers as more plans are finalized for the event.

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See all of Richfield Patch's coverage of the 2012 event:

• PHOTOS: Activities Abound at Sunday's Open Streets at Penn Fest
• PHOTOS & VIDEO: BMX Riders Flip For Open Streets at Penn Fest
• PHOTOS: Classic Car Buffs Bring Beauties to Open Streets at Penn Fest
• Penn Fest 2012: Runners Raise Money For New S.T.E.M. School Playground
• (PHOTOS) The Music of Open Streets at Penn Fest 2012

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