OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article about the scaling back of the See You on the Patio program, published April 14. City council voted Monday to continue to support the program.
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As a business owner downtown, I support the closing of Mississaga and Peter streets every Friday and Saturday night through the summer.
If businesses choose not to participate, fine, but the Friday night closures were a boost to already struggling businesses. In that regard, I wonder how many businesses who took part in the survey actually stayed open or if they closed at regular times (e.g. 5 or 6 o'clock).
When someone drives by a store, they may see something interesting, but will probably keep driving. Those who walk have the time to actually look in windows and go in to browse. Many people who live close to downtown actually walk down for dinner, for shopping, or just to have a leisurely look. Others park in one of the many lots and start strolling.
In these days of climate change, it is good for people to get used to doing things without their cars. Walking is good for us and good for the environment. If parking is a problem, take the bus. It is certainly a lot cheaper in so many ways.
The Peter Street Arts District hosted the Friday night Art Walks, which were a real joy. People came by to look at and buy art and chat with the artists. They brought their dogs and their kids and enjoyed seeing real people.
It livened up the street and gave people something special to do on Friday nights. The Art Walks were well received by the participants and the strollers. There is an incredible amount of creativity in and around Orillia — art, music, dance, and theatre. Let’s show it off as much as we can.
The Friday night closures in particular were well liked by local citizens and tourists alike. We already have a beautiful downtown with many local businesses, not chains.
Many artists have contributed to making it even more beautiful with the Streets Alive projects. Let’s keep going with a well-liked event that benefits businesses and Orillia as a whole. We have started something great and should keep going with it. See you downtown!
Molly Farquharson
Orillia
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