Township Of Millburn: Explore Millburn-Short Hills Wins Downtown New Jersey Award

Press release from the Township of Millburn:

May 26, 2022

Each year Downtown New Jersey recognizes New Jersey’s best downtown projects and programs completed within the last two years, as well as individuals dedicated to downtown revitalization. Downtown Excellence awardees are considered exemplary models worthy of emulation. Explore Millburn-Short Hills received the award for Excellence in Placemaking for the Main Street Pedestrian Mall on Tuesday evening, May 24th at an awards ceremony at the Lions Roar Brewing Company in Westfield. Explore shared the stage with award winners from Montclair, Hackensack, West Orange, Dunellen, Somerville, Hoboken and Perth Amboy.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to rage into the Spring of 2021, the Township of Millburn and its Special Improvement District - Explore Millburn-Short Hills - created a pedestrian mall along Main Street in the heart of Downtown. With Main Street closed to vehicles each weekend, Explore managed an immensely popular music and entertainment program. The pilot was such a success that a 24/7 closure was approved between early July and Labor Day. An additional weekend closure was put in place between Labor Day and Halloween that featured acoustic music during Sunday brunch.

Explore encouraged restaurants and stores to embrace outdoor dining and install seating, flowers and even potted trees and firepits. Explore developed a “Games on Main” concept, which included cornhole boards, a giant Connect Four board, and other games for children and adults. 2022 will see an expansion of the program with plans for outdoor yoga and exercise classes, art demonstrations and other community events during “non-peak” hours.

Committeeman Richard Wasserman, a founding board member of Explore, noted that “we created the SID during the pandemic to drive economic development in our community. Supporting an exciting pedestrian experience on Main Street has demonstrated our commitment to business recovery.” An effective SID needs to play many roles and Wasserman added, “the excitement on Main Street has undoubtedly increased the positive perception of Millburn and played a part in reducing our commercial vacancy rate by 53% in 18 months and recruiting nearly 50 new businesses to our town in that timeframe”

“Explore” is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization that serves as the Special Improvement District (SID) for the town. Established by the Township Committee in August 2020, the SID encompasses five distinct commercial areas and serves nearly 500 businesses.

This press release was produced by the Township of Millburn. The views expressed here are the author’s own.