By Cecilia Nasmith
Some of the fun of summer events will return to downtown Cobourg, with council passing a motion this week to close King Street for a pedestrian-mall experience for four weekends over the next three months.
This move for these Pedestrian Friendly Trial Weekends comes in response to a request from the Downtown Business Improvement Area for a chance to showcase member businesses – especially the restaurants, coffee shops and bars that can take advantage of the occasion to expand their patios on to King Street during these times.
The closure will be between Spring and McGill streets on four weekends – July 17-19, July 31-Aug. 3, Aug. 21-23, and Sept. 4-7. Shutdowns will begin at 9 a.m. on the Fridays and end at 10 p.m. on the Sundays (or holiday Mondays). The closures will follow fire, police, emergency and liquor-license requirements of the municipality and the province.
Council must approve all licensed establishments for the temporary extensions on to King Street.
The DBIA will apply for the patio extensions for each place and pay for the barriers and tables that will allow that extra seating that will help the restaurants, bars and coffee shops make ends meet.
It will also hire a security guard to be on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day to promote physical distancing and educate the public where applicable.
Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin said the DBIA will be delighted.
“We had a very detailed discussion on this issue at the DBIA board,” Seguin said.
Similar projects have been successful in other communities like Belleville and Gananoque, she added.
“The members really are in favour of this, because it will hopefully get increased revenues.
“This has been a tough three or four months, so we appreciate council bringing this forward. The members are really looking forward to trying this out,” Seguin said.
