A cardboard cutout of Saint John Mayor Don Darling encouraged people to physical distance during the first Open Streets event on July 11, 2020. (Photo: Brad Perry)
Saint John will not host its Open Streets initiative again this summer.
Last summer, the city pedestrianized multiple streets each weekend to try and drive more traffic toward uptown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Public Health guidelines have since changed, limiting outdoor gatherings to 50 people or fewer.
City staff decided with such rigorous demands put on event sizes, there was no way the initiative could return for a second year.
However, manager of population growth David Dobbelsteyn told the city’s growth committee that bylaws made to streamline road closures for special events last year could allow community groups to carry out similar events in 2021.
“If there are groups or organizations that want to host small events either in local neighbourhoods or even uptown, we would be open to those,” Dobbelsteyn said. “Provided they can meet requirements of the mandatory order, as well obtain all the mandatory permissions and support of local businesses and residents.”
Dobbelsteyn acknowledged the provincial restrictions are strict, and it could be difficult for community groups to meet the requirements.
City staff have been looking at possible events this summer in order to be prepared should the province change its mandatory order later this year.
“This doesn’t mean we’re going to do them, but we are preparing various options that we could look at if the province changes things in, say, July,” Dobbelsteyn said.
Growth committee members also heard that the city received mixed feedback from uptown businesses on last year’s Open Streets initiative.
Dobbelsteyn said that could have been due to lack of notice, and a lack of crowds patronizing uptown stores.
“If they didn’t see enough support to the businesses and people actually going through the doors, they may question whether or not there’s merit here.”
