Brayan Guadalupe Ruiz, In Motion Arts and Entertainment Reporter
Brayan Guadaupe Ruiz, In Motion Arts and Entertainment Reporter
With Valentine’s Day around the corner and quarantine still in effect, there are plenty of people who are wondering if it would be best to stay indoors this year.
However, the recent improvements for safety and the outdoor decor at Beach Street may be the solution to couples’ worries.
Namely, renovations to the sidewalk in front of the shops and restaurants have been widened and additional free parking spaces have been constructed.
“The overall goal of the Beach Street Streetscape was to create a more pedestrian-friendly and destination-focused downtown,” said Sherry Randolph, Communications Assistant at the City Manager’s Office. “The traffic lanes were reduced from four to two lanes in order to make sidewalks wider on both sides of the street.”
The project titled “Streetscape” began construction last January and was completed at the end of this past November.
It may be good fortune that such enhancement to public space along Beach Street from Orange Avenue to Bay Street occurred during a year when social-distancing and sanitation protocols were placed under great importance.
According to the Beach Street Streetscape website, one of the main aims of the project was to extend the sidewalk 8 to 10 feet in front of the storefronts, which has created larger outdoor dining areas and pedestrian access.
Additionally, Randolph said,“The project aids in public safety by slowing traffic and creating a safer, walkable environment for pedestrians.”
All the shops and restaurants in the area have remained open and are still operating under strict guidelines.
When asked if the refinement to Beach Street had helped local business, James Sass, owner of Abraxas Books, said, “It’s hard to determine the improvement in traffic flow right now, but we’ll get to see for sure once everything’s back to normal.”
While the lockdown continues to be in effect statewide, the completion of Beach Street Streetscape offers a sense of hope that business as usual will soon return to Daytona Beach.