CORNWALL, Ontario – Cornwall City Council passed a motion at their meeting on Monday, June 28 to open part of Pitt St. in the downtown to pedestrians and closing it to vehicle traffic.
The motion to adopt the proposed changes to Pitt St. was moved by Councillor Justin Towndale and seconded by Councillor Eric Bergeron.
“This came out of a collaboration between Hassan of Schnitzels and the DBIA and the Chamber and they were all consulted on this and I know the other businesses on the blocks were spoken to,” Towndale said. “I’m glad there are some compromises here based on feedback from businesses. It is a positive thing and I hope these weekends are successful. We are changing the face of the lockdowns we’re in and with Canada festivities unfortunately cancelled this gives businesses the opportunity to do something instead and support local businesses.”
Council voted in favour of closing Pitt St. to vehicle traffic on weekends from 4 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday every weekend this summer from Second St. to First St. and from First St. to 58 Pitt St.
Pitt St. south of 58 Pitt St. will remain open so that those businesses on that part of the street will still have access to their driveways, which they rely on to operate.
The first weekend that Pitt St. will be open to pedestrians is Canada Day weekend, with Pitt St. being closed at 11 a.m. on Canada Day.
Below is the full schedule of the opening of Pitt St. to pedestrians:
1. Thursday, July 1, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to Sunday, July 4, 2021
2. Friday, July 9, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 11, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
3. Friday, July 16, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 18, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
4. Friday, July 23, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 25, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
5. Friday, 30, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 1, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
6. Friday, August 6, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 8, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
7. Friday, August 13, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 15, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
8. Friday, August 20, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 22, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
9. Friday, August 27, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
10. Friday, September 3, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, September 5, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
Administration said that they felt confident that the street would still be easily accessible to emergency vehicles should such a need arise. As for bus traffic on Friday evenings and Saturdays, administration will be formulating alternatives to deal with the closures in the coming days.
