The Dunedin City Council has closed the road to motorists to trial a pedestrian and cyclist-only area.
If successful, the closure - of a 1.8km section of Queens Dr and Braid Rd - could be made permanent.
The council said it would be creating space for food trucks, as well as areas designated for activities such as yoga and table tennis.
In her report to councillors late last year, parks and recreation planner Katie Eglesfield said the section of road provided a unique opportunity to "reimagine" the greenspace, in line with its reserve management plan.
"By trialling a closure here, the space can be experienced as a cohesive, enjoyable area of reserve land, rather than as a road corridor," Ms Eglesfield said.
"This creates immense recreation and amenity value in its own right, transforming the Town Belt from a highway that divides, into a destination that connects."
Ms Eglesfield’s report said transport data indicated Queens Dr was not critical transport infrastructure; rather, it functioned as a "high-speed cut-through" as most vehicles travelled over the 50kmh limit, some reaching 80-90kmh.
Temporary closure was expected to have a minor impact on transport, the report said.
The trial will run until April 19.
