By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
City leaders have struck a compromise on some very valuable real estate downtown.
Organizers of the Black Swamp Arts Festival came to Bowling Green City Council Monday evening to voice concerns about the potentially negative impact the city’s proposed parklets may have on the annual festival’s art show.
“I am very impressed that everyone in this room is giving their very best for Bowling Green,” said Jamie Sands, chairperson of the festival this year.
But while the proposed parklets offer expanded outdoor space for downtown businesses, they will take away space for artists at the festival, she explained.
“The parklets, as proposed, will adversely affect the Black Swamp Arts Festival,” Sands told City Council.
Each 17-foot parklet will displace eight artists’ booths on Main Street, she said. And the loss of artists will damage the quality of the festival. The artists’ tents already have to be placed with utilities, street access, and fire trucks in mind. And this year with COVID, the festival will be required to place arrows on the street to direct foot traffic.
While Sands said she realizes the parklets are intended to help the downtown, she pointed out that the annual festival is the best weekend of the year for many downtown businesses.
“We also want what’s best for downtown businesses,” she said.
Council member Sandy Rowland asked Sands if the festival organizers had considered extending the art show to the south, if spaces are lost in the 100 blocks of Main Street for parklets.
Sands said that is being explored.
“We’re open to possibilities,” she said. “But I’m guessing most people don’t want to walk multiple miles for the Black Swamp Arts Festival.”
Rowland asked that the festival consider expanding one more block to the south.
“I think it can be made workable,” she said.
Council members sought a compromise since both the parklets and festival benefit downtown businesses.
“I’m confident we’re all interested in the same thing,” council President Mark Hollenbaugh said.
“The dilemma for us is we believe parklets are a way to save businesses,” council member John Zanfardino said. At the same time, “Black Swamp Arts Festival is the coolest weekend of the year.”
The compromise will require that any applications for parklets be filed with the city by June 1 – or else the parklet cannot remain in place during the festival in September. The festival organizers stressed that in order to plan for the artists booths, they must know the placement of the parklets no later than June 1.
The parklet concept is not a new idea – with the cities across the nation already making space for businesses in on-street parking areas.
And the idea isn’t new to Bowling Green either. The city’s 2014 Future Land Use Plan called for downtown parklets, and the 2005 Downtown Plan highlighted the need for additional public gathering space.
The concept resurfaced last year with help from council member Rachel Phipps after COVID cramped many businesses from operating in their normal manners.
Located in the parking lane adjacent to the curb, parklets are designed as an extension of the sidewalk. They not only expand the space available to gather outside downtown during a summer when social distancing remains important – they have the potential to increase outdoor dining options.
The parklets can be in place downtown April through November. The first two locations showing interest are on South Main Street in front of Grounds for Thought and Juniper Brewing Company.
Council member Greg Robinette said he had heard concerns from business owners about the loss of parking spaces in front of their properties. Mayor Mike Aspacher suggested that some issues could be addressed by the Downtown BG organization.
Aspacher also said the parklets will be limited to two per block, on each side of the street – so a total of four per block.
Council member Jeff Dennis, who is working with Phipps on the parklets, noted that the parklets will increase foot traffic downtown for seven months each year.
“There are quite a few businesses that have expressed interest,” Dennis said, estimating six so far.
Aspacher said that while several are intrigued by the prospects, some aren’t ready to commit to an investment this year.
Council members praised Phipps’ and Dennis’ work on the parklet concept, and noted the value of the annual Black Swamp Arts Festival to the community.
“The festival is an incredibly important piece to Bowling Green,” Zanfardino said.
