Quick Take
Santa Cruz needs a summertime pedestrian zone to enhance its reputation, improve safety and pull folks in, write four members of Pacific for People. The grassroots group is intent on seeing downtown become a more vibrant space, a goal city-dwellers have aspired to since the 1989 earthquake left downtown in rubble. At least 15 cities in California have already established permanent pedestrian streets, they write. It’s time for Santa Cruz to create its own weekend version.
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We’re disappointed the Santa Cruz City Council chose not to include weekend pedestrian streets on Cooper Street in the Downtown Vibrancy Ordinance. While we commend the effort to improve the walkability of alleyways, it doesn’t go far enough to meet the full potential of a truly people-centered downtown.
For decades, Santa Cruz residents have dreamed of car-free spaces in the heart of downtown — a tranquil space filled with outdoor dining, cozy gathering spots and room for children to play. A place where the hustle and bustle of traffic is replaced by the soothing sounds of conversation, music and laughter.
But it’s never happened.
Abbott Square has the spark — let Cooper Street carry the flame
Abbott Square, with its many fantastic restaurants, live music, comedy and community nights, offers a glimpse of what more of downtown could be. Just imagine: Cooper Street transformed into a lively, welcoming pedestrian space each summer weekend. Imagine music, inviting seating, community gatherings and the hum of outdoor dining. A space free of car noise and exhaust, where you can stroll without pressure, slow down, walk with your kids or with your cane unafraid and enjoy the magic of your community.
Across the U.S. and around the world, cities are embracing both permanent and seasonal car-free spaces. At least 15 cities in California have already established permanent pedestrian streets. It’s a return to our roots, when streets were shared, slower-paced and safe for adults, kids, seniors and animals alike. These aren’t just aesthetic improvements, they’re proven strategies for boosting local economies and improving public health.
Why now? Because cultural tides are changing.
Americans are returning to city centers — hundreds, if not thousands, of new residents are expected to move into the downtown area of Santa Cruz in the coming years, and with them comes a critical question: What kind of environment are we inviting them into?
Families, especially, won’t thrive in a downtown dominated by traffic, noise and the constant stress of navigating around cars. If we want to welcome families with children, we need public spaces that feel safe and vibrant.
Car-free zones aren’t just a nice idea. They’re a smart investment in our future.
Why is downtown Santa Cruz struggling? The main reason is because digital entertainment, communication and commerce have made it easier to stay at home. More people work from home than ever before. Today, 16% to 22% of U.S. purchases happen online, and that share could rise to 35% within the next decade. Meanwhile, delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats charge local restaurants up to 30% per order, cutting deep into already thin margins.
We believe a vibrant, car-free Cooper Street on weekends would help turn this around — inviting people downtown not just to shop, but to linger, connect and support the businesses that give Santa Cruz its character.
We can’t afford to wait. A pedestrian street will also rebuild the lively, connected communities necessary for optimum health. Loneliness is no longer just a personal struggle — it’s a public health crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared it an epidemic, and its impacts on mental health are already being felt in Santa Cruz County.
It’s time to act.
That’s why now is the time to pilot weekend pedestrian streets this summer on Cooper Street. By thoughtfully redesigning public spaces to adapt to changing conditions, we can draw people back downtown.
And while the challenges of homelessness are real, they should not prevent us from enjoying visible, inclusive public spaces in the downtown — especially during the warmer months when more people are out and about.
A Santa Cruz tradition of reimagining downtown as a place for people, not just cars
After the 1989 earthquake, the Vision Santa Cruz committee listened to public calls for more car-free public spaces and explored a range of ideas — from pocket parks and wider sidewalks to a pedestrian street modeled after Santa Monica’s iconic 3rd Street Promenade. Concerns about homelessness ultimately stalled those plans.
In 1996, Councilmember Katherine Beiers backed a monthly car-free Sunday on Pacific Avenue, and a citizens group proposed a permanent pedestrian street. In 1999, Mayor Keith Sugar pushed to create a public plaza, but the plan fell through when the landowner declined to sell the property (now home to the E.C. Rittenhouse Building). Community-driven efforts persisted, with the launch of Santa Cruz Night Outs by the Coalition for Community Commons in the mid-2000s. John Fisher — now director of programs and partnerships at UC Santa Cruz’s Life Lab — and his colleagues spearheaded these tireless grassroots efforts that brought Pacific Avenue to life with car-free celebrations of community.
In 2020, a temporary pedestrian street sprang to life on the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue — between Lincoln and Cathcart streets — during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many goals of Measure O in 2022 was to create a public plaza. Ron Goodman, now a commissioner on the City of Santa Cruz Transportation and Public Works Commission, also championed the dream of a pedestrian street.
Talk to people around town, and you’ll hear story after story of others who’ve helped keep this dream alive.
At its core, this proposal isn’t just about streets — it’s about giving local, independent businesses a chance against e-commerce giants. It’s about rebuilding the sense of community that’s been eroded by our fast-paced, technology-driven lives. It’s about creating spaces where we can breathe, connect and slow down. And when we design places where people want to linger, our local businesses thrive, too.
And let’s not forget: Over 95% of recent survey respondents said loud and clear — they want a pedestrian street downtown. The support isn’t just strong, it’s overwhelming.
It’s time to bring our long-held Santa Cruz dream to life. Please contact the mayor and city councilmembers and let them know you are ready to see Cooper Street as a pedestrian zone on summer weekends.
Ksenia Crow is a Westside Santa Cruz resident, a daily bike commuter and supporter of accessible transportation and vibrant community spaces.
Abe Downey is a passionate advocate for multimodal transportation options and healthy communities.
Jake Eschen has had a law office in downtown Santa Cruz for 29 years and is a regular bicycle commuter.
Kevin Norton is a public health professional who lives on Santa Cruz’s Westside.