Parking during Franklin Street revamp discussed
Feb. 20—GREENSBURG — Parking for courthouse employees, downtown merchants and the 2024 Main Street Farmers Market were topics of discussion at Monday's meeting of the Decatur County Commissioners.
With demolition of the existing streetscape beginning as early as April 1, Franklin Street will be closed until just before Fall Festival. All of the public parking on that side of the Square will be unavailable most of the summer.
Downtown Greensburg is a hub for warm weather activities, and any seasoned downtown Greensburg shopper knows that parking is usually at a premium on the Square year round.
For the upcoming summer of 2024, events like the summer-long Friday Farmers Market, the first PRIDE festival on June 1 and the United Fund Strawberry Festival on June 7, nearby parking may be almost impossible to find.
"We're having a pre-construction meeting a week from today, but as far as I know construction on Franklin Street will begin April 1st," said Decatur County Commissioners Mark Koors, "and completed before Fall Festival."
It should be noted that Commissioner Mark Koors is listed as the General Manager for Globe Asphalt Paving, the company chosen to do the lion's share of the renovation along the east side of the Square.
During that work, the east side of the Square will be resurfaced, crosswalks mirroring the west side of the Square will be added, new street lighting will be installed and a few traffic patterns rerouted. The crosswalk on the corner of Franklin and Main streets will be the last part of the project.
Decatur County Courthouse employees will have access to the employee parking lot there all but for a few weeks before Fall Festival.
City leaders say the finished product will not be wider than Franklin Street is now, but more parking will be created.
The parking lot owned by First Financial is being considered for extra parking space as well.
With the considerable growth the Farmers Market enjoyed in 2023, it is feared that a single side of the Square will not be enough to accommodate all the market vendors.
Commissioner Jeremy Pasel suggested asking the Farmers Market if they would mind going back to the Decatur County Fairgrounds, with Decatur County Auditor Janet Chadwell adding, "I heard that people liked it that way."
Decatur County Court Clerk Janet Howell added, "I love the Farmers Market, but it's very hard on Fridays to find a parking space."
"During the week of the fair it wouldn't work, but considering all the other businesses on the Square and the business of the courthouse, it might be worth it to have that conversation," Pasel said.
No decisions were made, but the Daily News will report on further developments.
Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com
