Program offers new opportunities for use of public space to downtown businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Contact: Meghan Behymer | Communications + Marketing Manager
mbehymer@downtownkalamazoo.org | 269-344-0795
A newly-announced initiative developed collaboratively between Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership and the City of Kalamazoo offers businesses creative and flexible opportunities to use public space for dining, retail sales, and services.
Designed as a district-wide special event, “The Outdoor Experience” allows businesses the opportunity to use sidewalk space and on-street parking spaces to install dining, shopping, or service areas, providing both a unique experience, and additional space to offset capacity restrictions put in place due to COVID- 19.
“With the City currently in the process of examining how our downtown street network should best be configured, this initiative offers us a timely opportunity to explore new ways to use public spaces, streets, and parking. Being able to have a real-world, short-term test for these things can directly inform how our public spaces are designed for the future,” notes Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain.
Businesses submit a basic questionnaire to the Downtown Partnership outlining how they want to use the space, and with few limitations, will be able to conduct business in the space adjacent to their buildings through October 31, 2020.
“We’ve heard loud and clear how challenging the last four months have been, and continue to be for downtown businesses. We’ve also heard overwhelmingly that consumers are eager to support local businesses and are particularly interested in outdoor opportunities. The ability to operate dining, retail, and services in a walkable, open-air environment is more important than it’s ever been, people want to connect, and they want to do it in a way that they feel comfortable” says Andrew Haan, President of Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership.
About the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership
Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is a private, non-profit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area and, in turn, the Kalamazoo community. In conjunction with its affiliate organizations, it manages a full range of activities that include capital improvement projects, business development and recruitment programs, image marketing and event planning in order to establish Downtown Kalamazoo as an accessible, diverse, green, progressive and vibrant urban center. For more information, visit downtownkalamazoo.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
###
Outdoor Experience Program Guide