New seating area available in Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN--With high heat and sun limiting initial usage, Watkins Glen Mayor Luke Leszyk said that he is hopeful the new town square created by closing part of Third Street to vehicle traffic will become a permanent fixture in the summer.
"If it is successful and popular and everyone is all right with it we will make it a permanent thing where it would start in May and run through October or so," Leszyk said.
While acknowledging that initial usage of the square has been minimal since being created in last week, Leszyk said he is not currently concerned and expects usage to grow.
"It's a little bare right now, and there isn't much signage letting people know that they can use it and that it isn't private property," Leszyk stated. "It has also been very hot recently and there isn't a lot of shade in the area yet so I am not surprised to hear that it hasn't been used much."
Over the course of the summer, Leszyk said the village will add signage, seating, lighting and possibly shaded areas to encourage people to use the area both during the day and at night. Even when that is all established, Leszyk said he thinks it is possible the square will be primarily used by tourists at night instead of during the day.
"Regardless of when it will be used, its existence allows for more outdoor seating for restaurants, which we hope will encourage tourists staying in the village to walk to get their food instead of trying to drive somewhere to eat," Leszyk mentioned.
As it potentially becomes more popular, Leszyk said not only could the square eventually drive up foot traffic for local businesses, but could also be a drawing point to bring in more tourists during the summer months.
"If we do decide to make it a more permanent thing it will evolve over time where we can put more improvements in there like better seating and working in combination with the Chamber of Commerce to make it more user friendly," Leszyk stated.
While the ultimate goal is to increase foot traffic and encourage more tourism, Leszyk said the square will also have the short-term impact of helping local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Developing a square has been in discussion for years, but doing it right now will give local businesses and restaurants the ability to expand outdoors and seat more people, which right now is important," Leszyk said.
Outdoor options are especially important as many people are still wary of being in confined spaces with strangers who are not wearing masks. As the square evolves and the COVID-19 restrictions are gradually lifted Leszyk said he could envision Friday night outdoor concerts being held at the square during the summer.
"The idea is it will encourage more people to come down and hangout, and we have nearby parking so people visiting from out of the area can park and still walk around the area," Leszyk added.
As to when the decision will be made as to whether or not the new town square feature will become a permanent feature of summer in Watkins Glen, Leszyk said that the matter will be analyzed at the end of the season.
"We are in the process of adding more lighting so people feel more comfortable going in at night, and we are going to take considerations for naming it because everything now needs a name," Leszyk remarked. "It's a work in progress, but hopefully it's successful and it will continue."