WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- The streets just outside Wichita State University were flooded with people for 2025's first Open Streets ICT event. Organizers say it has become a community staple over the years, drawing its largest crowd this year.
Early rough estimates put the total number around 9,000
people, 100 vendors and 25 volunteers to keep it all running. Blocking off 17th Street for nearly three and a half miles highlights the benefits of more pedestrian-friendly communities.
"That's the nature of walkable towns. It really just fosters that connection between people and fosters that positive social engagement among people," student organizer Tejas Muntimadugu said. "KU, K-State ... they're a college town where the community is literally built for the community to a degree, whereas Wichita is such a big city."
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The free-flowing foot traffic, inherent to a walkable event, spills into the surrounding communities, vendors and WSU's campus.
"We have live painting, we have lots of chalk and crafts happening," Taylor Waller, WSU Ulrich Art Museum education outreach coordinator, said. "That we can be a resource to the community through art is really important."
The event has become an opportunity to use foot traffic to strengthen those relationships more directly. Resources like mental health, financial and hospital services were also available along 17th Street on Sunday.
"Bringing them in, literally, physically and showing them this is the place for them," Waller said.
The next Open Streets ICT Event is at Nomar Plaza in May. ...read more read less
