August 10, 2012 — The University of Virginia is joining with the neighborhood associations from Fry's Spring, Jefferson Park Avenue and Johnson Village to sponsor a series of family-oriented events starting on Aug. 18 at 7 a.m.

From 7 a.m. to noon, local farmers will ply their wares at the Fry's Spring Beach Club in an extension of the City Market.

From 9 a.m. to noon, there will be a "Bike Walk Play JPA" family activity event on a closed portion of Jefferson Park Avenue Extended stretching from the bridge to the intersection of Jefferson Park Avenue, Harris Road and Camellia Drive.

At noon, there will be a "Bridge Soon to be Open" celebration and ribbon-cutting to mark the impending opening of the new bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. The bridge is already open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and the entire project is scheduled for completion by Sept. 24.

"We are pleased to play a sponsoring role in this important community event that engages local residents and businesses," said Jim Fitzgerald, associate director of the University's Office of Community Relations, which is working with U.Va.'s Off-Grounds Housing Office, Department of Parking and Transportation, Department of Athletics and the U.Va. Health System.

The closed portion of Jefferson Park Avenue Extended will be open to any form of active, human-powered travel and recreation, including walking, biking, jogging, unicycling, skating and "strollering." The road will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 1 p.m. to provide a safe environment for families to play, run, walk and bike in the street.

The street fair activities will include a water balloon gauntlet, creation of a collaborative street mural, a bicycle decoration station, live music, food and exhibitor's tables, "trash" bowling and an outdoor piano concert, with activities grouped in five areas along the route.

"Bike Walk Play JPA" is free and open to the public, accessible for any age group or physical ability level, and will take place on mostly flat terrain.

— by Matt Kelly