On June 15, 2003, silence echoed through the Arroyo Seco’s canyon for the first time in 63 years, as more than 3,000 cyclists and several thousand walkers entered the 110 Freeway. To be ON the Parkway without a car, as so many people later described their experience, was transformative. The feeling of connection – with other people, with nature and with the past – was tremendous. And many felt empowered – “we owned the freeway,” as one cyclist described it – imagining what the Arroyo was once like and what it could be in the future.
Currently, there are no plans to hold a second ArroyoFest, due in large part to the expense and complicated nature of coordinating such a large event. However, we receive regular inquiries and would love to see the three cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Los Angeles, decide to host it as an annual event.
To learn more about this historic event, please check out the resources and publications listed below.
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