Closed to traffic: urban park pilot project to run all summer.

• Author: Cowan, liz
• Position: TIMMINS

The Downtown Timmins BIA (Business Improvement Area) has a plan to draw the more than 3,000 down-town workers, and the community, into the city centre's streets this, summer. The Urban Park pilot project will see two blocks of Third Avenue (between Cedar and Spruce Streets) closed to vehicular traffic every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from June 16 to Aug. 27.

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"I didn't realize how many people worked downtown," said Downtown Timmins BIA General Manager Noella Rinal-do. "We just don't see them on the streets, at noon, or during their breaks. They go into their buildings in the morning and then leave again at the end of the day."

Rinaldo, who has been in the position for about eight months, said the idea was sparked by a presentation earlier this spring on making communities more people-friendly. When the BIA met with business people along Third Avenue, the concept was embraced.

"At first we thought of just one block, and then it grew into a second block. Now, everyone wants their street closed," she said.

There was some concern about the loss of parking, but the one block has only seven parking spaces and the downtown municipal lots are not always filled.

"People always want to park in the front of the business they are visiting so if there isn't a spot, they assume there is a parking problem," Rinaldo said. "We never get parking complaints when 15,000 people head downtown for the annual Santa Parade or when we have our sidewalk days and close down streets.

"They know they can't park on the closed streets so they find another spot. People just have to learn to walk a few blocks, like they do when we hold these events."

A main feature of the urban park will be a farmers' market held every Thursday beginning June 23 at 11 a.m. The BIA has joined Farmers' Market Ontario and it has purchased 10 large tents (with funding from the Venture Centre) to shelter the vendors. The tents can also be used by groups on Fridays and Saturdays.

"We are promoting the Mountjoy Farmers' Market (held every Saturday at the Mountjoy Community Centre) because we need them as well. The same vendors here will be there as well so they will complement one another," Rinaldo...