The City of Owensboro will close a portion of downtown 2nd Street on Friday evenings beginning May 28. The closure will span from Daviess Street to St. Ann Street each Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight throughout the summer months.
In announcing the closure, a release from the City acknowledged there has been a growing concern among downtown businesses and patrons regarding public safety with vehicle traffic through the downtown core.
“By minimizing vehicle traffic in this congested area, the City aims to provide a safer environment and adequate space for the growing crowds on Friday evenings,” the release reads.
Mayor Tom Watson said City officials have been communicating with downtown businesses and monitoring their concerns for several months.
“We anticipate larger-than-normal crowds returning to events as we finally get through the restrictions that everyone has been dealing with for the last 15 months,” Watson said. “Our goal is to help minimize the safety concerns near the outdoor café seating when we have the larger crowds on Friday nights.”
