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Williamsburg Walks Is Over (For Now)

Williamsburg Walks seems to have gone off fairly well over the four experimental weekends. No hordes of illegal vendors yet. Only one scorching day and two hours of a torrential downpour over four Saturdays. All in all, a very nice place to spend an afternoon.

There seem to have been some important lessons in the event about how to set up a street for pedestrian use- people are attracted to where other people and vibrant uses are. When the merchants were set up towards the sidewalk and there were no activities in the street, people stayed on the sidewalk. When the interactive "shootbooth", Kung Fu demonstration, and ping pong tournament set up in the street, they were a subtle, but effective encouragement for pedestrians to fill up the streetbed. As a result, this past weekend felt like the street was truly being activated.

The most positive, unexpected aspect of Williamsburg Walks was the community-building aspect. People who normally would brush by each other on the tight confines of Bedford stopped, met, and chatted. More interactions like this and we'll be able to reestablish some of the continuity and social stability that the neighborhood has rapidly lost over the past few years.

Our friends over at billburg.com who did some of the major organization of the events have a comment form up. They would love to have your feedback/support/thoughts about how to improve the event. If it's going to come back, there is going to have to be a lot of positive feedback about it. There will be a public forum at some point in the near future about Williamsburg Walks- watch this space for more information .