Brown International School Street
What is a school street?
A School Street is a street next to a school with a temporary restriction on cars, so children and their parents can walk, roll, and ride in the street next to a school at drop-off and pick up times. The result is a safer, healthier and pleasant environment for everyone.
What is the Brown School Street?
We are organizing our first school street next to Brown International Academy for Bike to School Day on Wed May 7th! King St between W 25th Ave and W 26th Ave will be car free, and W 25th Ave between Lowell Blvd and King St will be car free. We’ll have the help of barricades, community volunteers along with officers from Denver Police Department to help out and keep the street car free from 720am-740am, and again from 240pm-3pm. For drivers, the barricades and street closure setup will start sooner. To participate in the School Street you must agree to the terms and liability waiver here.
School streets have been very popular with students and their grown ups in cities like Vancouver, London, and in the United States in places like Hood River, Oregon.
See below for a map of the Brown School Street Closure.
Sign Up to Volunteer!
If you’d like to volunteer to help out with the school street, please click here.
Brown School Street Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we doing a School Street?
The streets around Brown International are quite dangerous during the morning and afternoon arrival and dismissal times. Students have nearly been hit and one student was hit by a driver with minor injuries in the last few years. The school street is to provide a space for the students to safely and comfortably walk to school for one day of the year.
Will there be a kiss and go lane during the School Street?
No, there will not be a kiss and go lane on the day of the Brown School Street. We understand that this may be an inconvenience to some parents and apologize for the extra time it may take for drop off or pick up. We hope you’ll consider the day as a fun opportunity to have a little extra time with your student walking or biking to school, whether you walk or bike from your home, or walk or bike after parking a few blocks away.
What if I or my student have accessibility needs to get into school?
We are happy to work on accommodations for any students or their grown ups that have accessibility needs. Please contact us.
How will the street be closed?
There will be barricades at W 25th Ave and King St, W 26th Ave and King St, and W25th Ave and Lowell Blvd, along with all 4 nearby alleys.
Where should I park to drop off my student?
We encourage you to park on nearby blocks next to Brown. it may take a few extra minutes to walk to your normal drop off spot. Better yet, we encourage you to bike to walk to school with your student if possible. Please do not use the alleys for pick up or drop off. The alleys are for the residents of those streets, and parking there or blocking the one lane alley with your car will make them inaccessible for the residents that live there.
What are the benefits to a school street?
Less cars around school means less air pollution for students. Students that get physical activity before school have been shown to do better in the classroom. They are also fun! In studies at other schools over 80% or parents enjoyed them.
Why are Denver Police officers present during the school street?
There are two legal ways to get a street closure in Denver. Get a street closure permit from the city or to work with Denver Police. We chose working with Denver Police because it was a much more affordable option for this pilot project. Community Resource Officers from Denver Police District 1, our local police station, are participating in this as a community building event and we very much appreciate their help. They will be monitoring each intersection at the corners of the school to remind drivers that the streets are car free.