Community Highlights:

Food & Drinks

Accommodations

Historic Sites

Parks & Recreation

Youghiogheny River

Directions & Map

Our Region

Cornerstone Building

´ Affordable Housing
´ Office/Retail Space
´ Virtual Tour

Main Street Program

´ Comprehensive Strategy
´ Projects & Priorities
´ Partnerships
´ Contributions
´ Committees

Business Incentives

´ Design Challenge Grant
´ Commercial Rehab Loan
´ Microloans
´ Design Assistance

"Simeral's Square"

The Town Square component is located at the north intersection of East Main and Water Streets to focus and promote the downtown. A riverwalk, plaza, concert stage and improved pedestrian access would harness the potential of the riverfront as an asset. It will include ...

• a community kiosk with directional map and activity information
• an interactive water sculpture that converts to an ice skating pond in winter
• an open "greenspace" with benches, bike racks, and gardens
• a sloped sitting lawn and concert stage
• a small retail marketplace known as the "Town Square Shoppes"
• a spur trail that continues along a riverwalk facing the waterfront

The "Town Square Shoppes" is a retail incubator for small start-up businesses that cannot yet afford to purchase or rent a storefront; or to encourage existing retail businesses located outside of the downtown to consider moving to downtown. The building is a simple structure with an open-air series of small vending spaces that can be closed for year-round use.

The types of retail considered for recruitment include a produce vendor, an ice cream stand, a flower stand, a barbeque, a café, arts & crafts, a game arcade, antiques & collectibles, etc. The building would also house public restrooms and a visitors' information center. Each vendor could sign a one-year lease to encourage rotation and growth into the vacant storefronts.

In the future, constructing a Spur Trail from the bridge into downtown on the East Side that extends along the riverfront south to the boat launch and Plumer House and north to Goehring Park could increase opportunities for trail users and recreational river enthusiasts to explore the community.