The City of Gainesville will hold an "Expanded Square Weekend" on the Historic Downtown Square from Friday, July 5 through Sunday July 7.
The weekend-long experimental event comes in response to community feedback from a series of public input meetings the City held in March.
“For three nights only, the square will be reserved strictly for pedestrians – families, couples and individuals – wishing to explore historic Gainesville and its many phenomenal offerings,” Gainesville Public Relations Director Christina Santee-Moss, said in a release. “In recent years, the City is pleased to have witnessed the square beaming with a renewed vibrancy and teeming with visitors enjoying some of the best restaurants, retailers and tasting rooms Gainesville has to offer. ”
The Expanded Square Weekend will kick off with the City’s monthly First Friday summer concert series slated for July 5 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The downtown square will close to traffic beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, and will remain closed through the weekend. Parking on the square will be closed off by 1 p.m. Friday.
The event encourages businesses to expand their outdoor dining areas, host sidewalk sales, and bring live entertainment in the place of vehicles on the square.
“With traffic temporarily confined to the exterior of the square, the community will also have more room to gather and connect with one another, enjoy a picnic, play games like cornhole or Frisbee – all things that are normally limited to the smaller greenspace or sidewalks,” Santee-Moss said. “While we have absolutely no idea what to expect, we’re excited to see how pedestrians and businesses take advantage of space they don’t normally have except during City-hosted events. That, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to show the public we heard them loud and clear, and that we take their feedback seriously.”
From July 5-7, traffic outside the square will still be able to make right-hand turns from Washington Street to Bradford Street, Main Street to Washington Street and Spring Street to Main Street. Those planning to visit the square over the July 4th weekend will have access to free, covered parking in the parking decks located at the Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.; Gainesville North Parking Deck, 100 Brenau Ave.; and Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St.
Those who visit the square on July 5, July 6 or July 7, including business owners and employees, will also be provided the opportunity to participate in a City survey seeking feedback on the experimental closure.
The City reminded the public the Gainesville Trolleys and Gainesville Shuttle will not run on July 4th in observance of the Independence Day Holiday. However, the services running on July 5 and 6 will pick up or drop off passengers in front of the Main Street Parking Deck, versus the front of the Renaissance Building.
