Council approves summer festivals, street closures and downtown dining permits

The Washington City Council on March 6 approved a package of event permits and street-use requests aimed at supporting downtown activity this summer.

Council authorized Downtown Lock Haven’s requests for a pinwheels-in-the-park child‑abuse‑awareness display and the “Best of Glen County” community event on June 17, including use of Triangle Park, temporary Main Street closures for a parade route and a banner request. A Downtown Lock Haven representative told the council the pinwheel event is tentatively scheduled for April 15 with a rain date on April 20 and asked to hang a banner for the month of April; staff confirmed insurance and paperwork had been submitted.

"So we just have two requests," the Downtown Lock Haven representative said when presenting the applications.

Councilors debated banner duration, with one member urging limiting banners to the week of an event so the gazebo and other public-display locations remain available for other community groups. Casey, the staff member who handles event scheduling, said banners are commonly left up for a week to help advertise events and that PennDOT permission is required for some Main Street banner placements.

Representatives from the Clinton County Arts Council, identified in the meeting as organizers of Lock Haven Jams, asked to close Main Street (J Street to Bessemer) pending PennDOT approval for a three‑day festival Aug. 10–12, requested an open‑container perimeter for festival hours (pending the required application), free parking on Aug. 12 and a Main Street banner July 31–Aug. 12. They also proposed a sidewalk chalk art program; staff advised that because Main Street is a state highway, chalk or pavement markings may raise state‑highway marking issues and the council cannot act on that element tonight because it was not advertised on the agenda.

Sean Dale, owner of Bold Corner, asked to close a stretch of North Grove Street on weekend evenings from Memorial Day through Labor Day for on‑street dining and entertainment. Councilors pressed him on operational details — who would set barricades, hours for amplified sound and coordination with other downtown events — and suggested limiting amplified music to about 10–10:30 p.m. to address residential noise concerns. Dale said he would take responsibility for barricade setup and expects to host entertainment most weekends.

"I'll do it now for the concert series," Dale said when asked who would handle barricades.

The council also approved use of half of Fallon Alley for outdoor tables by Main Street Grill (owner Chris Darwin), with staff to ensure pedestrian access is preserved and that the sidewalk‑dining application requirements are met.

All the event and street‑use motions that were on the published agenda passed by roll call vote; council directed staff to complete permitting steps, verify PennDOT approval where required and return with any unresolved details.