Lock Haven Announces Friday/Saturday Main Street Closure Approval; Relocation of Triangle Park Concerts to Main Street
LOCK HAVEN – The City of Lock Haven has announced that effective this Friday, E. Main Street from Jay to Vesper Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic each Friday and Saturday through summer, the hours from 9 a.m. on Friday through 9 p.m. on Saturday. Additionally, the city’s summer concert series, its start delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, will see its Friday evening concerts relocated from Triangle Park to the E. Main – Grove Streets intersection beginning June 26.
Word of PennDOT approval for the Main Street closure came on Tuesday from City Hall:
With downtown restaurants and retailers facing 50 percent occupancy restrictions as the community continues to deal with the effects of the pandemic, City Council received approval from PennDOT to begin its plan to close portions of the Central Business District to vehicles to encourage foot traffic and community support of our downtown.
The city will be closing E Main Street from Jay to Vesper Streets, and Grove Street from E Church to Jordans Alley on Fridays and Saturdays this summer. Beginning Friday, June 12, and continuing each weekend through September 26, these sections of the downtown will be closed to traffic each weekend from 9AM on Friday until 9PM on Saturday. This will accommodate lunch and dinner diners and shoppers on both Fridays and Saturdays.
The closure of this section of downtown will accommodate pedestrian traffic enabling restaurants to expand sit-down dining into the sidewalk and parking area in front of their buildings. Retail stores will also be able to move merchandise into the sidewalk and parking stall areas on the closed section of the Central Business District.
Any business in the city that may need to make an investment in tables, or other outdoor equipment in order to invest in their success is encouraged to reach out to City Planner Abbey Roberts (570-893-5903) to discuss the city’s new business enterprise loan offering which provides a 3-year loan at 1% interest with no payments for the first 6 months.
For restaurants in the closure area that have a license to sell alcohol, they will be able to do so for sit-down customers by getting a free waiver to the City’s Open Container Ordinance provided by application to the office of the Director of Community Life Kasey Campbell (570-893-5612). The Clinton County Economic Partnership has also provided downtown restaurants with liquor licenses the information they need to streamline their application for approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to include the outdoor space their restaurant is being provided on Fridays and Saturdays.
The city’s new outdoor dining park next to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be open all week, including Fridays and Saturdays, to accommodate to-go customers from our downtown’s local restaurants.
Free parking is provided in the city’s lots after 5PM on Friday, with the most convenient to the downtown being the lot near the corner of Grove and E Church, and the lot on E Water Street across from the YMCA. The Clinton County Courthouse has also agreed to open its lot to the public to provide free parking in its lot to downtown visitors beginning on Friday at 5PM until Saturday at 9PM.
Beginning June 26, 2020, the city’s Concert Committee will begin to hold its Friday night concerts on a stage in the middle of E Main and Grove intersection. Those interested in attending the free concert are invited to bring their own chair, but would also be able to now enjoy dinner outdoors at one of the downtown’s unique restaurants while listening to the music of the weekly band.
The stage will also be available each weekend after June 26 to any amateur or professional performer interesting in donating their time and talents to help bring success to the city’s downtown merchants who for months have struggled to cope with lost revenue in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To sign up for a performance slot, contact the Director of Community Life.
In order for this program to bring the greatest amount of success in support of our local businesses, it will take partnerships with the city and county governments, Downtown Lock Haven Inc., the Economic Partnership, businesses owners, and most importantly, the residents and guests of our community whose investment in locally owned and operated businesses sustains the community we love to call home.
Restaurants and retailers which have not already reached out to the city’s Director of Community Life (570) 893-5612) to take advantage of this opportunity are encouraged to do so to find out how they can take advantage of this opportunity as we work together as a community to rebuild the businesses and quality of life of the City of Lock Haven.
