Our downtown districts anchor our communities creating spaces full of life for people to interact, celebrate, work and recreate. The COVID-19 Pandemic forced many of the small businesses in downtowns to close and kept people inside. As we begin our phased reopening its paramount that we reclaim adequate space for people. Prioritizing pedestrian-oriented spaces has always been a best practice for downtowns to follow, but now it’s essential given the social distancing guidelines that we should all be following.

Many Merrimack Valley communities are quickly adjusting — passing ordinances and implementing strategies — to add outdoor seating and safe pedestrian walking spaces.  There are many resources and examples on how to create these spaces quickly.  The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) published a guide, Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery, provides a guide on how to implement quick changes.    

One simple way that many cities are making their downtowns more viable is through sidewalk extension. Extending sidewalk width allows for pedestrians to pass each other at a comfortable distance and it allows space to be used for additional outdoor seating. This outdoor seating is especially valuable to restaurants who need the additional space in order to keep customers at a safer distance. Sidewalks can be extended in a number of different ways. Street-side parking can be blocked off to instantly double the width of sidewalks for walking, sitting, or waiting. This concept is called “Open Curbs”. Another popular strategy is using “Parklets” which are pedestrian structures that take the place of a single parking space

Looking for more inspiration? Check out this list of what cities of all sizes are doing to create better streets amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, additionally check out Smart Growth America’s complete resource list here.

About MVPC’S CEDS Program

Downtowns/City Centers are one of the four pillars of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), the guiding economic development document for the region created with input from stakeholders throughout the Valley. MVPC works closely with our municipal partners and downtown stakeholders to ensure our downtowns remain vibrant anchors of our communities. To learn more about your program, contact Nate Robertson at MVPC at nrobertson@ mvpc.org.