The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Watch for area friendly trends
Changes coming to downtown Willoughby this weekend
Visitors to downtown Willoughby will be seeing changes taking place throughout the area starting on July 14.
One of the most obvious changes is the addition of three bicycle racks bought by the city.
The Downtown Willoughby Association is hoping to make the area more bike friendly and will start that effort with the placement of the racks which will give people a space to lock their bikes up as their explore, shop and dine in the downtown area.
Mayor Bob Fiala and his staff walked through downtown during the afternoon on July 13, trying to see where the bike racks would be best placed and discussing other changes.
“What we are doing is seeing where they are going to go then we will ask the merchants if they want to buy them,” Fiala said.
The racks made by and purchased from the Little White Barn resemble a wheel and bear the city’s name on it. They will also feature the name of the merchants who purchase them.
The city has not revealed what the other changes are yet but have indicated when and where visitors can look for them.
One of those other changes also will be unveiled July 14. Crews will start to work on it about 9 a.m. at the intersection of Erie Avenue and Third Street. This will be a test run on a project to see if it can be carried throughout downtown at the other intersections, Fiala said.
Visitors to the downtown area will also notice something new appearing in the windows of many of the downtown merchants indicating a sign of things to come.
“What we are trying to do is put out a couple of small things in anticipation of Art Fest,” Fiala said.
“They are a little tickler for the creation of an arts and entertainment district.”
These changes are all initiatives of the Willoughby Art Collaborative that has recently been formed under the mayor’s leadership.