This fully pedestrianized street is a key destination in Downtown Cleveland. The eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, music venues, cafes, and shops is topped with picturesque string lights that create a cohesive atmosphere and sense of place. The street is lined on either side with outdoor tables, chairs, and other amenities that build a bridge between the street and local businesses, creating a density of patio space, and facilitating a natural gathering of people.

Formerly Cleveland’s theater district, the revitalization of this area that began in the early 2000s has expanded outwards and helped to spark the new energy still emerging downtown. Together with Public Square, the central public space in Cleveland located only a few blocks away, East 4th Street provides the seeds of a network of public destinations in the city center.

The Healthline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that runs alongside East 4th Street is also partially to thank for growth of the neighborhood. One of the country’s first BRT lines, the Healthline has led to $9.5 billion in investment in surrounding areas over the past 10 years, and the accessibility it offers helps drive activity to bustling East 4th Street.

Images courtesy of East 4th Street, a "live, work, play" community, and MrCleveland247 on Wikimedia Commons.