Montclair Scales Back Plan To Close 2 Streets On Weekends

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair will be slightly scaling back plans to close two streets to help nearby businesses in the coronavirus pandemic, the Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID) said Wednesday.

At the recommendation and request of the BID, the Township of Montclair will now be closing Church and South Park streets on Saturdays from Aug 1 to Sept. 26.

• Church Street will be closed from noon to 10 p.m.
• South Park Street will be closed from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Street closures may be canceled or delayed due to poor weather, the BID noted.

The original plan included closing Church Street to all traffic on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m., and closing South Park Street to traffic starting Fridays at 5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Sundays.

• See related article: Montclair COVID Recovery Includes Street Closures, Fitness In Park

“We feel that one night a week will positively increase pedestrian and dining space and allow the entire team to deliver a safe and organized space for downtown Montclair,” BID Executive Director Jason Gleason said.

Mayor Sean Spiller said officials “understand the fluidity of the situation” and “fully support” the latest version of the street closure plan.

“We will do all we can on our part to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors to the area and increased foot traffic for the businesses,” Spiller said.

Here’s what to expect, the BID said:

“Pop Goes the Plaza!, DesignShed’s innovative streetscape installation for Church Street, will return, as well as the distanced bistro tables on South Park to encourage visitors to bring take out from neighborhood restaurants. South Park will also include carefully spaced outdoor tents from a rotating group of select Montclair Center retailers in the late afternoon. Masks will be generously distributed by the Montclair chapter of the NAACP from 5 to 9 p.m. presented by the Health Committee of the NAACP and MOMS (Masks on Montclair).”

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