INDIANAPOLIS — Parts of five Indianapolis streets will close Friday to accommodate the reopening of restaurants.
Indy is allowing restaurants to resume dine-in service Friday, but only outdoors through at least June 1. The city is closing the south half of Monument Circle, plus parts of Illinois and Georgia Streets, Mass Ave, and Broad Ripple Avenue. That’ll let restaurants add tables on the sidewalk and in parking lots, while pedestrians walk in the street to keep their distance from restaurant patrons — and each other.
The detours will remain in place at least through the Fourth of July. Mayor Joe Hogsett doesn’t rule out making the pedestrian corridors permanent, but says the focus right now is on finding creative solutions to allow restaurants and shops to open safely.
The city previously announced a grant fund to reimburse small businesses up to five-thousand dollars for purchases of masks, gloves, and sanitizer, or for signs and physical barriers to enforce social distancing.
Public works director Dan Parker says the closures will eliminate 500 parking spots through at least the Fourth of July. He says there are still 400 spaces downtown within a two-minute walk of the closed areas, and more spaces further away. He says the city will work with Downtown Indy, Inc., to publicize where parking is available.
The street closings are:
- The southern half of Monument Circle
- Mass Ave from the Delaware Street/New York Avenue intersection to College Avenue
- Georgia Street from Illinois Street to Pennsylvania Street
- Illinois Street from Georgia Street to Market Street
- Broad Ripple Avenue from College Avenue to the Monon Trail
Some cross-traffic will still be allowed through.
(Provided photo/City of Indianapolis.)
