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A group of downtown merchants sought Drumheller Town Council’s approval in principle for a proposal to close off Centre Street to vehicles between Third Avenue and Railway Avenue during the period of July 15 to August 31.
Council did not make a motion on the pedestrian mall concept unveiled at their regular meeting Monday, June 16.
Travel Drumheller’s Chris Curtis made the presentation on behalf of the merchants group.
The merchant’s group envisions a Centre Street pedestrian mall where existing businesses would use the street, which would contain a staffed guest kiosk at both the Third Avenue and Railway Avenue entrances, entertainers performing daily, and produce sold by local farmers.
Mayor Terry Yemen told Curtis the door on the idea isn’t closed, the idea may just need reworked.
“It was suggested the group revisit, maybe take baby steps, and try it on weekends,” said the Mayor.
“I see value in it, and we do bring a lot of tourists here, and we do get a lot of tourists at Splash Park,” he said, adding “If we could get a third of them there (downtown), that would be incredible.”
“ It’s not what we wanted, but it’s not a setback,” said Curtis.
He said the idea of the pedestrian mall came about when a small group of downtown merchants got together and started talking about ways to make Drumheller’s downtown busier and more vibrant.
“I’m really the facilitator for the group, but I do think a vibrant downtown is good for tourism, as well as business.”
Curtis said the next step is to do up a survey with a concrete plan to present to downtown merchants, but notes time may not be on their side.
“We’ll go out and talk to merchants, figure out what they want, and bring it back (to Council). My fear is by the time everything gets approved, it would be August 15.
Council supported the idea of improvements downtown, but expressed concerns about the plan as it was presented.
Counting among those concerns were impacts to businesses, especially those on Centre Street, and a lack of details in the plan, such as who would be paying for the project’s costs, including providing new signs on the pedestrian mall and to direct traffic to public parking, and providing shaded areas for patrons.
Curtis said there was added value to the process.
“The best part of the whole thing - twenty downtown merchants in a meeting sitting down to talk.”
