Open Streets
Chelsea Primary School Trial Program will occur on Friday 7, 14 and 21 February 2025 at Fowler Street next to Chelsea Primary School. The street will be closed between 7.30am-5pm.
Welcome to Our Open Streets
Creating safer, healthier, and more connected communities.
What are Open Streets?
Open Streets is an event that creates a safe and welcoming space around the school gates for children, families and residents of the local street.
It encourages families to walk or ride to school and enjoy being active and healthy in a safer, less traffic-congested environment.
Open Streets transforms the streets around the school by limiting car traffic at drop-off and pick-up times one day per week for three consecutive weeks.
It reduces traffic congestion in the school area and creates calmer, quieter streets for residents, students and their families.
How does it work?
The City of Kingston in partnership with Chelsea Primary School, provides a safe, closed-off area around the school where students and families can meet before or after school to enjoy the space away from all the traffic congestion.
Why Open Streets?
Traffic congestion around schools during drop-off and pick-up times creates safety risks, poor air quality, and stressful environments for children, families, and residents.
This can discourage and limit our children's opportunities to enjoy being active, social and more connected to our community.
By encouraging walking, cycling and scooting, Open Streets tackles congestion, poor air quality, and road safety concerns. This makes school streets more appealing and convenient for active travel.
How Open Streets can help
Open Streets transforms the space around the school into vibrant spaces where children and families can walk, cycle, and scoot safely during key times of the day.
With less traffic, Open Streets helps create safer, healthier, happier and connected communities.
- Safety: Traffic is limited around the area, which reduces risks and creates a calm and welcoming environment.
- Health: Encourages more walking and riding, helping children and families build healthy habits.
- Community: Connects neighbours and creates shared spaces for everyone to enjoy.
- Environment: Reduces vehicle emissions and improves air quality.
Chelsea Primary School Trial Program
The City of Kingston is in partnership with Chelsea Primary School to run the Open Streets trial program.
One street alongside Chelsea Primary School will be closed off to local traffic. This allows students and their families a space to enjoy a fun and safe environment at drop-off and pick-up times.
Council will use signs and pop-up infrastructure to indicate that streets are open for children and families to walk and ride. During the temporary closure periods, traffic will be managed by Council marshals. Residents who live within the Open Streets zone can still enter and exit their property as needed.
Get Involved
Would you like to help make Open Streets a success? Join us as a volunteer or provide feedback to help us shape the future of the program.
Have your say today at Your Kingston Your Say
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most common questions from families and residents.
When and where will this happen?
The program will run one day a week, over three weeks, at Fowler Street next to Chelsea Primary School. This is between Argyle Avenue and Glenola Road.
It will occur on Friday 7, 14 and 21 February 2025. The street will be closed between 7.30am-5pm. Please note that the street will be closed for drop-off and pick-up times.
How long will the street closures last each day?
The section of Fowler Street will be closed between 7.30am-5pm. Normal traffic will resume immediately after these periods.
Will this impact the bus routes near the school?
Council has worked closely with the relevant bus companies to ensure there is minimal disruption to bus routes near the school. Any slight alterations to the routes have been planned for well before the Open Streets program.
How will the program accommodate families or residents with disabilities?
The school has arranged for an accessible area on Argyle Avenue in front of the school gate.
The school will be in communication with those families who require access.
Residents with accessibility needs will not be impacted as there are no restrictions on accessing their properties.
What benefits does the program bring to families and the community?
Traffic congestion around schools during drop-off and pick-up times creates safety risks, poor air quality, and stressful environments for children, families, and residents.
This can discourage and limit our children's opportunities to enjoy being active, social, and more connected to our community.
Open Streets creates a safe and welcoming space around the school gates for children, families and residents of the local street. It encourages families to walk or ride to school and enjoy being active and healthy in a safer, less traffic-congested environment.
Why should we support Open Streets?
Open Streets creates a safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable space for children and families and local residents. It encourages active travel, well-being and builds stronger community connections.
How can I share my thoughts about the program?
We value your thoughts, ideas and feedback.
The City of Kingston will collect feedback via the online survey, which can be found at Your Kingston Your Say
This will be collected from the school families, students, staff and local residents before, during and after the program concludes.
Can emergency vehicles access the area?
Yes, emergency vehicles will always have access to the area during the street closure.
What happens in case of an emergency during the street closure?
Emergency vehicles will always have access to the area if needed, and trained traffic marshals will assist in facilitating their entry.
How will the street be closed off?
Temporary signs and pop-up infrastructure will be set up to indicate the Open Streets zone, and trained marshals will manage traffic to ensure safety and access for school families, staff and local residents.
Is this program permanent?
This is a pilot program running for three weeks. Its success and feedback from the community will help determine the potential for extending or repeating it.
How will safety be maintained?
Trained traffic marshals and clear signage will manage traffic and ensure the area is safe for everyone.
Who is responsible for running the program?
The program is managed by the City of Kingston in collaboration with Chelsea Primary School to ensure smooth operations and safety.
Why do you have to close the road?
Traffic congestion around schools during drop-off and pick-up times creates safety risks, poor air quality, and stressful environments for children, families, and residents.
This can discourage and limit our children's opportunities to enjoy being active and social and more connected to our community.
Streets are public places and are for everyone. People love walking and bike riding but don't always have options to do so. This is an opportunity to get around safely, stay healthy and enjoy our neighbourhood.