It’s easy being green - on Route 16, that is. Come and join in the fun this Sunday, August 21.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Somerville will soon enjoy yet another SomerStreets celebration. Entitled Going Green on Route 16, the event takes place August 21 on Alewife Brook Parkway (Route 16) from Dilboy Field to Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge.

SomerStreets is the city’s Open Streets Initiative, which closes sections of roadways one Sunday per month to promote and support active living such as walking, biking, running, or dancing.

SomerStreets began last year and, in all, there will be five events this summer. The series recurs each consecutive year.

Activities will include a farmers market, live music and entertainment, craft vendors, free activities for children, and a recycled sculpture contest.

“For Route 16 we’re also incorporating various sports exhibitions and activities, since there are athletic fields already located there. Additionally, there will be free/open swimming at Dilboy Pool for the afternoon,” said Jackie Rossetti, Deputy Director of Communications of the City of Somerville.

“These events encourage community members of all ages to get outside and be active, but also to experience new areas of the community and learn about the businesses and organizations that call our city home. We have a lot of wonderful things to offer, and I’m excited at how popular the SomerStreets trend has become in just one short year,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

“We try to bring SomerStreets events to areas throughout the city, and thus far we have not hosted one in the western part of the city,” said Rossetti.

In 2011, each SomerStreets event has or will feature a unique theme. In June it was Carnaval at SomerStreets, and in July it was time to Seize the Summer.

“For August, because Route 16 has a particularly large stretch of green space, it seemed a natural fit for a ‘going green’ event.  This one will focus more heavily on those issues, by incorporating recycling games, information [about] Zero Sort recycling (coming this fall), and an exhibition by Honeywell, among others,” she said.

SomerStreets builds on the Shape Up Somerville healthy living initiative.  Similar open streets events take place all around the world to provide space, which is normally taken up by automobile traffic, so that people may be more active. More specifically, this year special attention is being paid to the availability of fresh food at SomerStreets.

The remaining 2011 SomerStreets schedule is: September 10 on Shore Drive, Rolling on the Mystic and October 23 on Somerville Avenue from Union Square to Porter Square, Fall Festival.

All SomerStreets events will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.