A memo from the Downtown BIA, outlining progress on their plans for the pedestrianization of Dunlop Street, was received by councillors earlier this week.
Now called the Open Air Dunlop Street Project, the BIA, in collaboration with city representatives, is hoping the pilot project can connect with the City of Barrie’s Culture Days events in the fall.
The project would temporarily pedestrianize a portion of Dunlop Street from Mulcaster Street through to Clapperton Street.
According to the memo, the BIA is proposing a celebration that would take place across four consecutive Saturdays, starting either Sept. 26 or Oct. 3.
Stephanie Schlichter, the city's director of economic and creative development, prepared the report for councillors.
“In principle, economic and creative development staff see synergy and opportunity to align 2020 Culture Days with a pedestrianization pilot,” wrote Schlichter in her report. “Aligning these events provides the opportunity to promote the arts and culture sector throughout the extended Ontario Culture Days month-long celebration, in addition to championing economic recovery support for this sector, as it has been severely impacted as a result of COVID-19.”
“Over the coming weeks, the culture development officer will be working to develop Culture Days programming with culture organizations, and will work with the BIA Working Group on collaboration opportunities,” she added.
In May, city council approved a plan to pedestrianize the downtown street as soon as reconstruction of the area was completed. The Dunlop Streetscape project is ongoing in the area.
Council’s approval was on the condition that the BIA support the plan.
According to the report considered on Monday night, the City of Barrie has agreed to contribute up to 50 per cent of the cost, to a maximum of $10,000 to support road closure logistics and additional clean-up to be funded from the Community Benefit Reserve.
The BIA has requested that an additional $5,000 be provided by the city to support logistical costs for road closures.
Additional approvals from council related to downtown patio removal dates may also be required and will be presented to council as part of the complete program report back.
Staff are planning to report back to council in early September with a detailed plan for the Open Air Dunlop Pilot project and 2020 Culture Days program, at which time councillors will determine when and how the project will proceed.
