LH Pedestrian Mall Done for the Year

By Scott Johnson

LOCK HAVEN – The pedestrian mall in downtown Lock Haven has closed for the season.

At Monday night’s City Council meeting held via video, City Manager Greg Wilson said he received a letter that day from Downtown Lock Haven Inc. that it no longer requests the city close down Main Street Friday afternoon through Saturday evening.

The pedestrian mall has been in place weekends the last several months in an effort to help eating establishments downtown to set up outdoor dining areas as a result of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.

Council last month agreed to allow the mall to be open, with PennDOT’s approval, through Oct. 31. Wilson said with DTLH’s request, city staff will remove the barricades from along the streets starting Tuesday to be stored until next year.

Council Monday night also unanimously approved the city’s 2021 budget schedule. The budget will be discussed at meetings on Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23 with adoption set for Dec. 7. All meetings are set for 7 p.m.

Wilson said to allow council to meet in-person with the capability of broadcasting the meetings to the public, they will be held at 425 Raub Hall, Lock Haven University. He added residents may attend the meeting in person, though they must wear masks and there will be a maximum capacity.

In another note from Monday night’s 15-minute-long meeting, council agreed to a banner request for Downtown Lock Haven Inc. for “Small Business Saturdays” from Nov. 2 through Dec. 21.