SOUTH DEERFIELD — In the name of providing a safe space for children to play in the street as in generations past, Cross Street will be closed to through traffic from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Organized in Deerfield by Merril Miceli, the Play Streets initiative is a nationwide push to create temporary car-free zones where children and neighborhoods can come together in the street to spend some active time outdoors.
“The inspiration is to encourage community building, building relationships and getting children outside playing together,” Miceli said. “My hope is that this is a first event of many.”
She added that a designated play area can help parents feel safe about letting their children run around the neighborhood, as safety concerns are often “one of the big barriers” holding children back from being active.
“As you build community … then hopefully people feel confident and comfortable having their children go outside more independently and feel safe to do so,” she said.
For two and a half hours on Friday, Cross Street will be blocked off at its Eastern Avenue and Graves Street intersections. Signs and barricades will be put on the street to indicate the street is closed, but residents who live on the street will be allowed to drive through slowly if needed. Parents are encouraged to stick around with their children to foster community amongst adults as well. No predetermined activities will be organized as Miceli explained it is a child-led experience, but balls, chalk and other simple materials will be available.
Miceli, who is an early childhood educator, said the benefits of outdoor play are “endless” as children’s physical and mental health are bolstered. She also founded the outdoor education program Forest Folk in Amherst.
Outdoor play, she said, is “how we learn to be a collaborator, think flexibly, build empathy and compassion.”
The town and Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. approved Miceli’s plan as long as parking on streets is monitored closely. If Play Streets is successful, then Miceli would like to hold another one over the summer, an idea that Paciorek is open to.
“Giving you permission certainly places substantial liability on myself and the community,” Paciorek wrote in an email included in the Selectboard’s March 9 meeting packet. “We will see how time one goes, and then have a discussion on time two or three.”
Miceli said the event will be held rain or shine and that “it’s exciting that community members are interested” in bringing their kids out.
“There’s still a lot of joy to play outside in the rain,” she noted.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.