When Breckenridge Town Council passed a resolution approving the closure of Main Street to motor vehicle traffic and opening it to pedestrians and outdoor shopping and dining, Town Manager Rick Holman noted that roughly half of the 30 eligible restaurants with liquor licenses expressed interest in participating.
As of Monday, town spokesperson Haley Littleton said that number rose to 22.
The closure, which is set to begin June 12 and last for about eight weeks, is planned for Watson to Jefferson avenues, but a partial closure extends south to 400 S. Main St. with access for residents, according to Town Clerk Helen Cospolich.
Following the decision, business owners and residents in Breckenridge have responded with a wide spectrum of opinions. Some believe it will bring much-needed business and promote physical distancing while others think it will give some businesses an unfair advantage and create traffic and parking issues.
Richard Snider — owner of Daylight Donuts, which is north of the closure area — said he was concerned about the traffic and parking issues the plan could cause. He said he gathers much of his business from morning drive-by traffic, which he worries will not continue if people can’t drive straight down Main Street.
According to Assistant Town Manager Shannon Haynes, the town will require participating restaurants to use tables and stanchions rented through the town in collaboration with the Breckenridge Tourism Office. Restaurants can put out four tables and stanchions at a cost of about $350 for the entirety of the planned closure.
“The whole purpose of closing Main Street is to be able to maintain social distancing, and so … the end goal is to be able to give people space,” Cox said. “The end goal wasn’t to close down Main Street for tables on Main Street. The end goal was to close down for social distancing and that was just an added value, adding the tables. We want to have a vibrant tourist impact this summer, but we also want to do it safely, and that’s why I support it the most.”
A Facebook post on One Man’s Junk Summit County asking Summit County residents what they think about the closure received 128 comments. Several commenters called the closure a “great idea,” pointing out how they have enjoyed similar pedestrian walkways in other towns.
Angelica Cardenas said “it will be beneficial for restaurants and retail,” and Dori Welch said in a Facebook message that she will personally visit Main Street and provide business more often when it is pedestrian only.
“As a business owner on Main (Street), I think it’s a safe way to ease back into welcoming tourists. Typically, when Main (Street) is closed, our business goes down, but at this point nothing is normal,” Lori Tracy Maphies said in a Facebook comment.
Other commenters pointed out potential parking, traffic and weather issues. Ryan Lundqvist said that frequent afternoon rainstorms in the summer will be an issue with people eating outside. Hampton Gewin called the idea “short sighted and ill thought” and James Franklin said the closure is irresponsible with the construction of the new parking structure on the South Gondola lot.
“Sounds like a knee jerk reaction to a problem that doesn’t even exist yet,” Todd Schroeder said in a Facebook comment. “Think about traffic movement on July 4th, during the Ullr parade, Oktoberfest etc. That is the traffic pattern we are going to deal with every day? For how long? So tables can be set up in the middle of the road. This doesn’t seem to be very well thought out.”
To address parking in Breckenridge, Haynes reported in an email that paid parking will begin June 12 with 2019 rates and that it will be free to park in the Tiger Dredge lot after 3 p.m.
